By John Bohnenkamp

Owen Oreskovich had to piece together a pitching plan on Sunday.

It worked.

Four Burlington Bees pitchers combined to strand 17 Clinton LumberKings in a 12-9 win in the Prospect League game at Community Field.

The Bees (14-21 overall, 3-1 second half) got two home runs from Marcos Sanchez — a two-run homer in the fifth inning and a grand slam in the eighth — and had 17 hits.

But it was the way their pitching got out of numerous jams that proved to be the difference. That’s going to be important, considering that after Tuesday’s off day the Bees have just one day off the final three weeks of the season.

“We’re running a little bit low (on pitching) right now,” Oreskovich said. “We’re trying to save some guys so that you have guys that can pitch on different days.”

Starter Trevor McGee pitched four innings. Jeron Conner (1-0) and Weston Fulk pitched two scoreless innings. Jaxon Ingram pitched the ninth, when Clinton (17-19, 2-3) scored five runs to make the game close.

There was never a clean inning for the Bees, though. McGee stranded seven baserunners, Conner three and Fulk six when he got out of bases-loaded situations in the seventh and eighth.

“We got some big pitches in big situations with the bases loaded,” Oreskovich said.

Sanchez’s fifth-inning home run put the Bees in front, 5-4. Oscar Ponce had a three-run homer in the sixth, then Sanchez added his eighth-inning slam.

Sanchez came into the game batting .163 with one home run. He hit .286 with eight home runs last season.

“That’s the Marcos we saw last year,” Oreskovich said. “When he first got here, his timing wasn’t right. He was a little off. He would be asking me between every inning what was going on. I told him, ‘You’ve just got to feel it.’ He felt it today. He got some pitches to hit, and he didn’t miss them.”

Ponce went 4-for-5 and scored four runs. Sanchez scored three runs, as did Kevin Santiago.

ON DECK: The Bees conclude their four-game homestand with Monday’s 6:30 p.m. game against the Springfield Lucky Horseshoes.

Photo: Marcos Sanchez (15) is greeted at home plate by teammates Oscar Ponce (second from left), Kevin Santiago (second from right) and Jaden Hackbarth after his eighth-inning grand slam. (Steve Cirinna/Burlington Bees)

By John Bohnenkamp

Tucker Cole should have been out, but wasn’t.

And that, Burlington Bees manager Owen Oreskovich said, might be a sign that things are starting to bounce his team’s way to start the second half of the Prospect League season.

The Bees’ five-run seventh inning proved to be the difference in a 9-7 win over the Cape Catfish on Saturday night at Community Field.

Burlington (13-21 overall, 2-1 second half, Great River Division) has won back-to-back games with late rallies. This one was odd — the only hit for the Bees in the seventh was Trey Adams’ two-run single — but still was fun to Oreskovich to watch.

“Oh yeah, it was a good one,” Oreskovich said.

The Bees came back from a 6-4 deficit with a seventh inning that featured five walks, an error, a hit batsman, a passed ball that brought in one run and a wild pitch that brought home Cole, even though it didn’t look like he was going to score.

The wild pitch from Cape reliever Ray Schroeder bounced off the concrete backstop and right back to catcher Andrew Sharp, who whirled to throw to Schroeder covering the plate.

Cole was still several steps from the plate, and Oreskovich, coaching from the third-base box, thought it was going to be an easy out.

“Oh my God,” Oreskovich said, laughing. “(Cole) took off, (the pitch) hit the bricks, and I was like, ‘No…'”

But Schroeder couldn’t handle Sharp’s throw. Cole, who had stopped when he thought he was going to be tagged, darted around Schroeder and scored the fifth run of the inning.

“That’s when you get the feeling that something is going your way here,” Oreskovich said.

It proved to be a key run when the Catfish (14-20, 2-1 Prairie Land Division) tried to come back in the ninth. Kyle Maurer, who got his third save of the season, retired the first two hitters before the Catfish loaded the bases with two walks and a single. Cam Careswell scored on a wild pitch, but with runners on second and third Maurer struck out Christopher Hall to end the game.

The Bees won all four games against the Catfish in their season series.

Nick Tampa (1-1) was the winning pitcher.

“Tampa was incredible, but he has been this entire summer,” Oreskovich said. “He’s not a guy that’s going to blow it by you, but he gives his defense a chance. He’s been so good.”

ON DECK: The Bees play host to the Clinton LumberKings in a 2 p.m. game on Sunday.

Photo: Nick Tampa was the winning pitcher for the Bees in Saturday’s 9-7 win over the Cape Catfish. (Steve Cirinna/Burlington Bees)

By John Bohnenkamp

Chase Honeycutt taped a reminder on his bat.

The catcher was playing his last game of the summer with the Burlington Bees. He’s going back to his home in Mississippi, without a college baseball home for next season, an uncertain future in a game that promises nothing.

“Last game here,” Honeycutt said. “Could be the last game ever.”

The goodbye was going to be difficult, so Honeycutt wanted to make sure to absorb, and embrace, all of the final moments.

That’s why he made the reminder to himself, and he made sure to look at it.

Take it all in. 

The lasting image Honeycutt took was of his teammates racing toward him as he stood at second base. Honeycutt’s two-run single capped the Bees’ four-run comeback in the ninth inning of the 5-4 win over the Normal CornBelters in Friday’s Prospect League game at Community Field.

“Surreal,” Honeycutt said.

“It’s basically a storybook, right there,” Bees manager Owen Oreskovich said, smiling as he recalled what had happened.

Honeycutt got the chance he asked for in the seventh inning, after his infield popout for the second out of the inning. That F-5 in the scorebook wasn’t going to be his farewell.

“I looked at everybody and said, ‘Let me get another at-bat. Do everything you can to give me one more at-bat,’ Honeycutt said. “They did, and luckily I came through.”

Still, he didn’t know if that chance would come.

Which is why Honeycutt stood at home plate when the top of the ninth ended on Bees left fielder Kevin Santiago’s diving catch of a fly ball from Normal’s Jared Comia. Honeycutt stood, nodding with approval, and then stopped to look around the field. He walked slowly to the dugout, stopping to shake hands with plate umpire John Alexander.

Take it all in.

For Honeycutt to get his final at-bat — he was due up fifth in the inning —  a lot had to happen.

A lot did.

Nick Tampa led off the inning with a single to right field on a 3-2 pitch.

“That was the (at-bat) right there,” Oreskovich said. “Tampa saw the spin on the breaking ball the pitch before, knew he was going to get a fastball, and got a good swing on it.”

Dawson Estep was next. His grounder up the middle looked like it was going to be a double play, but Normal second baseman Will Henson bobbled the ball, and everyone was safe.

“You put the ball in play, something can happen,” Oreskovich said.

Trey Adams then walked to load the bases.

“He spits on a high pitch, then draws the walk,” Oreskovich said.

Back to the top of the order. Honeycutt, batting second in the lineup, was going to get his at-bat.

“At that point, I’m thinking, ‘He’s going to win it,’” Oreskovich said.

Honeycutt, standing in the on-deck circle, started scanning the crowd. His parents, his grandmother and grandfather, were among the 553 in attendance.

Take it all in.

Honeycutt had two hits and reached on an error in his first three plate appearances. The first three at-bats were against starter Austin Collison, whose off-speed pitches had kept the Bees from mounting little offense in his five innings. Honeycutt had seen just enough fastballs from reliever Coby Rogers in his seventh-inning plate appearance to speed up his bat.

“That first guy was really slow,” Honeycutt said. “The second guy had a better fastball, and luckily had enough pitches to be geared up for it.”

Sam Monroe then pounded a single into right field to score Tampa and Estep, and when right fielder Wilson Zuck bobbled the ball, Adams and Monroe were able to advance to third and second.

“I had a feeling if he came up with a chance to win the game, that’s how it’s supposed to go,” Oreskovich said. “It’s supposed to go that way.”

Honeycutt jumped on a fastball on the third pitch he saw from Spencer Smith (0-3). The line drive carried into the left-center field gap, and Adams and Monroe raced home with the tying and winning runs.

Honeycutt slowed as he rounded first base and watched the scene develop. And as he reached second base, he did a victory stomp of his feet as his teammates erupted from the dugout.

Take it all in.

“It was, honestly, a dream come true,” Honeycutt said. “It was amazing. I couldn’t picture anything better.”

“He got a pitch he could handle,” Oreskovich said. “And he smoked it.”

Oreskovich kept smiling at the thought of what he had just seen.

“Great kid,” he said of Honeycutt. “I love the kid.

“I think it means more to him than anything. I think it means the world to the kid. In this world, it’s tough. You never know if that at-bat could be his last at-bat ever. You never know. And I think it means the world to him.”

It was one of those nights that Oreskovich said could “flip the script.” The Bees struggled in the first half, and an 0-2 start to the second half could have just added to the disappointment.

“We were talking about it during batting practice,” Oreskovich said. “Guys were saying, ‘Second half, new me.’ Now we realize we have a chance.”

Honeycutt was late getting into the clubhouse after the game. He wasn’t ready to say goodbye, staying out on the field for some final photos.

Take it all in.

He thought about his two seasons with the Bees, his summer home while playing at Jones (Miss.) College.

“It brings back fun in baseball,” Honeycutt said. “Great guys in the locker room. You get to meet new people. You get to meet people from around the country.

“It’s a great experience that I’ll never forget.”

Photo: Chase Honeycutt is doused with water after delivering the game-winning hit in the Burlington Bees’ 5-4 win over Normal. (Steve Cirinna/Burlington Bees)

By John Bohnenkamp

It’s been an interesting road in the college career of Burlington Bees reliever C.J. Lewis.

“Well, the journey … it’s not over yet,” Lewis said, smiling.

The right-hander is looking for his fourth college program in four seasons, and the summer is a perfect time to audition.

His numbers with the Bees are making coaches notice.

Lewis is 1-0 with a 2.81 earned run average in nine appearances. He has allowed 16 hits in 25 ⅔ innings, striking out 19.

Lewis is in the NCAA transfer portal after pitching just 3 ⅓ innings in three games at Toledo in the spring. He’s hoping someone will see the summer he’s having.

“After every game, I’m sending stuff out,” Lewis said. “So it’s a really big summer for me, in terms of finding what I need to do to be a good pitcher. But also, doing good so I can get stuff out to get the looks that I need.”

Lewis has been a reliable arm out of the bullpen for the Bees, and that was evident in the 2-1 win over the Cape Catfish on June 25. Lewis pitched six innings in relief of starter Jared Townsend, allowing just three hits and an unearned run. He was the winning pitcher when the Bees struck for two runs in the bottom of the 11th innings.

“It was an extreme confidence booster,” Lewis said. “Just going out there, seeing the hard work pay off, it was awesome. A real confidence booster for me.”

“He’s a competitor,” Bees manager Owen Oreskovich said after the game, “and we’re riding with him.”

Lewis’ success has come with some experimentation with his mechanics. A new arm slot he’s found, he said, has made the difference.

“It was really kind of trial and error — what works best for me, what can I repeat the most,” Lewis said. “Really just playing with some things, trying to find out what works best.”

Lewis said the arm slot he found came while playing catch before the Bees played the Cape Catfish on the road in a June 10 game. That night, Lewis pitched four innings, allowing just one run while striking out four.

“I really found something I liked,” he said. “I felt amazing.”

Oreskovich likes Lewis’ confidence.

“He has a little extra ‘oomph’ to him,” he said. “He’s got that, ‘I’m that dude,’ to him.”

And Lewis appreciates his manager’s confidence, pointing to his six-inning stint against the Catfish.

“It means a lot,” Lewis said. “It means the trust is there. And that’s all you can ask for as a player — that your coach trusts you, and you get an opportunity.”

Lewis, who grew up in the Bloomington/Normal area in central Illinois, wanted to play somewhere close to home. Bees coach Chris Monroe, who has recruited Lewis throughout his career, called him and invited him to Burlington.

“I had seen all of my friends play for the (Normal) CornBelters (in the Prospect League), but I wanted to go somewhere different,” Lewis said. “So I came here.

“I’ve learned there are great baseball players everywhere. I wasn’t sure what to expect coming in. There’s a lot of talent in this league. Everywhere you go, you’re going to find someone good.”

Lewis wouldn’t mind getting a start or two, since the coaches recruiting him have talked to him about being a starter. But he likes his role with the Bees.

“I don’t mind coming out of the bullpen,” he said. “The tough situations, I like.”

Lewis’ college career started at Chicago State in the 2020 season that was shortened by the COVID-19 pandemic. The program was eliminated that summer, so Lewis pitched for Parkland Community College in 2021 before moving to Toledo this season.

Now he’s seeking a new path.

“It’s been a ride, lots of ups and downs,” Lewis said. “But I wouldn’t change it for the world. Without the journey, I wouldn’t be where I’m at today. And I’m thankful for it.”

Photo: Bees right-hander C.J. Lewis has been one of the team’s top relief pitchers this season. (Steve Cirinna/Burlington Bees)

By John Bohnenkamp

It all goes back to zero.

Sunday’s 9-3 loss to the Clinton LumberKings at Community Field was the 19th of the Prospect League’s first half for the Burlington Bees.

After Monday night, when the Bees and LumberKings play in Clinton, everything starts over.

Tuesday will be the beginning of the second half, which means a whole new season for the Bees. That has been something manager Owen Oreskovich has been stressing to his team.

“Hopefully that resonates in their head,” Oreskovich said. “It’s hard to do that, it’s hard to tell a kid in a losing season that it’s basically a new season. To them, it’s still not, because they’ve been here the whole time, and it’s tough that way. Hopefully some of them realize it’s basically a new season here, and everything clears up.”

The Bees (11-19) put themselves into position early to close the first-half home schedule with a win. They led 3-1 after two innings, but could only manage two hits over the final seven innings.

Clinton (14-16) tied the game in the top of the third on Luke Ira’s two-run home run, then took control of the game with three runs in the fifth and two in the sixth.

“Our offense didn’t have it today,” Oreskovich said. “They didn’t hit yesterday, we hit better than them. Then we didn’t hit today. Our offense couldn’t seem to find it after that three-run inning.”

Jared Townsend (1-3) took the loss for the Bees. Townsend only walked one and struck out six, but he gave up nine hits in four-plus innings.

“I thought Townsend did actually a pretty good job out there,” Oreskovich said. “He only walked one guy, which is what we’ve been looking for out of him. Tried to limit the free bases, make them earn it. And they earned it.”

Cauy Massner gave up three runs and six hits in 3 1/3 innings for the Bees. Jeron Conner, making his first appearance of the season, retired five of the six hitters he faced to close the game.

Conner, who graduated from Burlington Notre Dame High School, joined the team on Saturday.

“That’s what I love to see,” Oreskovich said of Conner’s performance. “We were a little short on arms today. That was good to see out of him, to go out there and not get sped up. Throw strikes, and get outs. That’s the name of the game.”

ON DECK: The two teams continue their four-game series with a 6:30 p.m. game at Clinton on Monday. Burlington starter Osvaldo Mendez (0-0) will face Clinton’s Brody Brecht (0-0). Brecht, who just finished his freshman season at Iowa, has struck out 19 in 6 2/3 innings this season.

Photo: Bees first baseman Ryan Grace fields a grounder in the fourth inning of Sunday’s game. (Steve Cirinna/Burlington Bees)

By John Bohnenkamp

Ian Landreneau was able to relax.

His offense, and the defense behind him, got the Burlington Bees’ starting pitcher everything he needed on Saturday night.

Landreneau gave up one run in five innings, and he and relievers Steven Escarcega and Jaxon Ingram combined on a two-hitter in the 4-1 win over the Clinton LumberKings in a Prospect League game at Community Field.

The Bees (11-18) broke a four-game losing streak heading into the final game of the first half on Sunday.

Landreneau (2-3) gave up just one run in the first inning, and kept the LumberKings off-balance all night.

“Just commanding the zone with the fastball, and keeping the breaking ball in the zone,” Landreneau said. “And our defense played well. That’s big, because I don’t have to put all of the pressure on myself. I can just put the ball over the plate, because I know they’ll be there to help out.”

Landreneau, who gave up five walks and struck out four, has allowed just three earned runs in his last two starts. He had given up 15 in his first three starts.

“Lando went out there and competed,” Bees manager Owen Oreskovich said. “He minimized the walks — he had some 3-2 counts, but he made the pitches to get out of it. He let his defense work behind him. It was awesome to watch.”

Oreskovich thought back to Landreneau’s second start of the season, a 9-2 loss at O’Fallon on June 9. Landreneau opened the game with four shutout innings before giving up six runs in the fifth.

“He had a really good (start) early in the year against O’Fallon,” Oreskovich said. “It just went sideways in one inning.

“He’s just in the routine now as a starter. He knows when he’s going to throw. He’s filling (the strike zone) up more, not allowing free bases. He’s taking a little weight off his shoulders by doing that.”

The only run Landreneau gave up was in the top of the first. He thought he was out of the inning when he retired Rayth Peterson on a comebacker, but the play was ruled a foul ball. Peterson walked, and then scored when Matt Scherrman’s high popup down the first-base line fell for a base hit.

The Bees took a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the inning on Kevin Santiago’s two-run home run. They added two more runs in the second on Dawson Estep’s RBI triple and Sam Monroe’s run-scoring double.

“Getting the lead like that, I don’t have to try to be perfect,” said Landreneau, a right-hander from Texas Wesleyan University. “I can sit there and trust the defense.”

“When you get up in the first few innings, it makes it easier,” Oreskovich said. “It makes it easier for the offense. And it makes it easier for the pitcher — he can go out there and breathe a little bit.”

Escarcega walked one and struck out one in two shutout innings. Ingram picked up his first save with two perfect innings.

“Steve went out and did a great job, like he’s done all summer,” Oreskovich said. “Jax did a hell of a job there at the end. He’s one of the best kids on the team. He brings everyone together, he’s outgoing, he’s fun in the clubhouse. It’s nice to see kids like that succeed and do well.”

“It was great for them to come in and shut the door,” Landreneau said. “Zeroes after the first two innings. If we keep doing that, we’ll be in good shape.”

ON DECK: The two teams play a 6:30 p.m. game on Sunday. Jared Townsend (1-2) will start for the Bees.

Photo: Ian Landreneau allowed just two hits in five innings in the Bees’ 4-1 win over Clinton. (Steve Cirinna/Burlington Bees)

By John Bohnenkamp

Another fast start by an opponent put pressure on the Burlington Bees.

Thursday’s 11-1 loss to the Illinois Valley Pistol Shrimp in a Prospect League game at Community Field was built in the early innings, and the Bees couldn’t recover.

The Bees (10-17) trailed 4-1 after three innings, then gave up five runs in the fifth inning.

The pressure showed on the Bees’ bats. Burlington didn’t get a hit after the fifth inning, and their last eight hitters of the game struck out.

The Bees didn’t have a runner in scoring position past the fourth inning.

“It makes it a little bit harder to hit when you’re chasing in the fifth inning,” Bees manager Owen Oreskovich said.

The Bees came into the week having won five of their last six games, but have been outscored 33-13 in their current three-game losing streak.

“I would say basically it starts with pitching and defense,” Oreskovich said. “When that’s good the first couple of innings, it’s a little bit easier to stay locked in when you’re hitting. When it’s not too good … for a lot of these kids, it’s hard to stay locked in in a summer league game when you’re chasing a lot early. If you get good pitching, good defense, early, it usually leads to a better baseball game.”

Illinois Valley (17-11) had 16 hits. Jack Johnston had hits in his first five at-bats before Tucker Cole struck him out in the ninth inning.

The Bees’ lone run came in the first inning, when Weston Fulk’s double scored Sam Monroe.

The Bees, officially eliminated from the Great River Division first-half race, close the half with three weekend games before turning their attention to the second half.

“That’s basically the mindset now,” Oreskovich said. “The second half starts on Monday. That’s a whole new season, basically. Hopefully that makes them feel better. But they see the wins and losses at the end of the day. These guys don’t like losing. I don’t want them to get used to it, because I don’t like (losing).

“Tomorrow’s a new day. Start over, 0-0.”

ON DECK: The Bees play a road game against the Pistol Shrimp, beginning at 7 p.m. Friday.

NOTES: A moment of silence was held before the game for Springfield pitcher Lucas Otto, who was killed in a car accident in Illinois early Thursday morning. … Bees outfielder Spencer Nivens extended his hitting streak to eight games. Nivens is hitting .371 in the streak.

Photo: Weston Fulk celebrates his first-inning double that drove in the Burlington Bees’ only run. (Steve Cirinna/Burlington Bees)

By John Bohnenkamp

Spencer Nivens’ three-run home run that rattled the scoreboard in the eighth inning put some life into the Burlington Bees.

The top of the ninth, though, silenced everyone.

Illinois Valley scored just five runs on two hits in an inning that Bees manager Owen Oreskovich said went “haywire”, and the Pistol Shrimp held on for a 13-8 win in Wednesday’s Prospect League game at Community Field.

Illinois Valley (16-11) took advantage of an error, three walks, a hit batter and two wild pitches — one of which allowed two runs to score.

“It’s just tough,” Oreskovich said, searching for words. “That’s just tough. It didn’t go our way today. Those things happen, but … that’s a tough one. That one hurts a little bit.”

The inning started when Illinois Valley’s Zach Lane hit a popup into short right field that second baseman Tucker Cole tried to track down. The ball hit off Cole’s glove, and Lane reached second base.

“That’s a tough play, especially at night,” Oreskovich said. “Everything started from there.”

Only one of the hits in the inning, a single by Dio Cornet, drove in a run.

Bees starting pitcher Osvaldo Mendez allowed two hits and two runs in the first two innings, but left the game after Oreskovich said he was feeling “tight.”

Cauy Massner gave up six runs in three innings. Nick Tampa (0-1), who pitched a perfect seventh and eighth inning, was charged with two runs. Kyle Maurer, who relieved Tampa in the ninth, gave up three runs.

The Bees (10-16) had 13 hits. Leadoff hitter Sam Monroe had two hits and scored twice. Nivens, who had four hits, scored four times. Eight of the nine Burlington starters had hits, and all nine reached base.

Illinois Valley led 8-5 going into the bottom of the eighth. Cole and Trey Adams had back-to-back walks to start the inning. After Monroe struck out, Nivens pounded his home run to right field, his second homer at Community Field in as many games.

“I thought our offense was really good today,” Oreskovich said. “Up and down the order. They gave us a chance to win the game. We just had to get it done on the mound.”

Eben Heine (1-0) was the winning pitcher.

ON DECK: The two teams play a 6:30 p.m. game Thursday at Community Field.

NOTES: Nivens extended his hitting streak to seven games. Nivens, who is hitting .300 for the season, is batting .355 in the streak. … Monroe is on a six-game hitting streak. He is hitting .333 in the streak. … Bees third baseman Oscar Ponce has a five-game hitting streak. … Bees first baseman Ryan Grace is batting .484 over the last nine games.

Photo: Spencer Nivens connects on his eighth-inning home run. (Steve Cirinna/Burlington Bees)

By John Bohnenkamp

Trevor McGee has a plan for his pitching career.

His college career is over, so the Burlington Bees left-hander is in the Prospect League hoping someone notices him.

Maybe an independent professional league. Or maybe a Major League Baseball scout.

It’s why, after talking to Bees manager Owen Oreskovich, McGee made a two-day drive from Pennsylvania for an opportunity to keep pitching.

“I was thinking to myself if you want to get looked at, you’re going to have to go where the eyes go,” McGee said. “I was hoping to find a high-level league to pitch in.”

McGee has made two strong starts for the Bees since arriving on June 17. He’s 1-0 with a 1.80 earned run average, with 10 strikeouts in 10 innings.

He has helped bolster a Bees starting rotation that has struggled at times this season. His veteran presence — he is one of three graduated seniors on the roster — has made a difference as well.

“He has helped some of our guys greatly in the bullpen, just talking about pitching,” Oreskovich said.

McGee, who is from Bensalem Township, Pa.,  was 1-6 with a 6.81 earned run average at Clarion (Pa.) University, an NCAA Division II school this season. McGee was looking for a summer league, and when the Bees had a roster opening and in need of pitching after a five-games-in-three-days stretch in the second week of the season, Oreskovich reached out to him.

“He said, ‘We’ve got a spot here if you want to throw,’” McGee said. “And I took it.”

McGee made his first start two days after his arrival, throwing six innings and striking out six in a 2-1 win over the Springfield Lucky Horseshoes. He allowed one run in four innings in Sunday’s 6-3 win at Clinton.

Nine of the Bees’ 14 pitchers were either college freshmen or sophomores this season. McGee and Garrett Moltzan, a senior at Texas Wesleyan, are the oldest pitchers on the staff.

“Those guys have been through it, they’ve seen it,” Oreskovich said. “You can see it when they pitch, too. They don’t really let any little thing affect them, like some guys might. They’re pitchers. They might not be guys that throw 95, 98, but they know how to pitch. They know how to get guys out. They can see things in swings. They’re pitchers. They’re really great to have there around young guys.”

McGee likes to be around his new teammates.

“You kind of see where their journey went, where they’re at,” he said. “The league was more mature here. Some of these leagues get into the entertainment side of it. I kind of wanted a league that was serious about baseball. They’re here, they’re grinding. They’re here with a goal and a mindset.”

McGee doesn’t have the obligations that come with younger pitchers. Some come to the summer leagues with either pitch counts or inning limits set by their college coaches.

“There’s a lot of things you don’t have to worry about anymore, being graduated,” he said. “I don’t have to really worry about it now. I’m kind of on my own terms here.

“It’s nice to not really have any more distractions. I’d like to develop further. Get bigger, stronger. Throw more accurate pitches, better spin rate, more efficient pitching.”

This is McGee’s third summer league season. He played in the Northwoods League in 2019, and played for Springfield in the Prospect League last season.

“I’ve been around a little bit,” he said, smiling.

Playing in a former minor-league ballpark for an organization that was once an MLB affiliate was something that appealed to McGee.

“The people here really love baseball,” he said. “They’re people who understand and respect baseball. The people here get involved, they talk to the players. It’s kind of cool knowing they’re really involved. Some of them have told me they’ve looked up my stats, things like that.

“It’s kind of a humbling experience a little bit, knowing a few years earlier, there was a pro athlete wearing this same uniform I’m wearing now. It’s a little bit surreal. But I’m glad I’m here.”

BY THE NUMBERS

• Spencer Nivens is on a six-game hitting streak. Nivens is hitting .269 in the streak with one home run and seven runs batted in.

• Trey Adams is also on a six-game hitting streak. Adams is hitting .381 in the streak.

• Ben Tallman was 0-for-25 to start the season. He’s 3-for-7 with two runs batted in and two runs scored in his last two games.

• Ryan Grace has hits in six of his last seven games. Grace, batting .360 for the season, is batting .478 in that stretch.

• Sam Monroe has a four-game hitting streak. Monroe is hitting .333 in the streak. Monroe leads the league with 23 walks.

THE WEEK AHEAD

• Monday, at Alton. The Bees take their four-game winning streak to play the River Dragons (13-10) for the first time this season.

• Wednesday-Thursday vs. Illinois Valley, Friday at Illinois Valley. After an off-day Tuesday, the Bees begin a three-game series against the Pistol Shrimp (15-8). Illinois Valley won the first two games against the Bees on June 14-15.

• Saturday-Sunday, vs. Clinton. The Bees, who have beaten the LumberKings twice this season, close the first half against them with two games at Community Field.

Photo: Bees pitcher Trevor McGee is one of three graduated seniors on the team. (Steve Cirinna/Burlington Bees)

By John Bohnenkamp

Kevin Santiago had two at-bats in which he just missed hitting the pitch he wanted.

That wasn’t going to happen a third time.

Santiago’s 11th-inning single brought in Oscar Ponce with the winning run as the Burlington Bees defeated the Cape Catfish 2-1 Saturday night in a Prospect League game at Community Field.

The Bees (9-14) have won three consecutive games and four out of their last five.

But they had to rally in their longest game of the year. The game took 5 hours, 13 minutes to complete, including a 1-hour, 45-minute rain delay in the second inning.

It was the third win by the Bees over the Catfish this season, and all of them have come in Burlington’s final at-bat. The Bees scored a run in the top of the ninth for an 8-7 win on June 10, then won 10-9 on the following night with two ninth-inning runs.

“And now this,” Bees manager Owen Oreskovich said. “To do that, wow. That was awesome.”

Santiago’s hit with two runners on capped the comeback that was started when Spencer Nivens hit his first home run of the year, a towering drive to right field, to lead off the inning.

Ponce followed with a line-drive single to right-center field, and then he moved to second when Ryan Grace was hit by a pitch.

Santiago, who had flyouts in the fifth and seventh innings, knew what he was looking for when he came to the plate.

“I was looking for a fastball, because all day they had been throwing me off-speed,” said Santiago, who is hitting .313 this season. “I know for something to happen, it had to be a fastball in.”

He got that from Cape reliever Dante Zamudio (1-1), driving a pitch down the left-field line. As Ponce scored the winning run, the Bees poured from the third-base dugout and chased Santiago into left field to celebrate.

Santiago, a junior at Texas Wesleyan University, played for the Bees last season, and his experience is something that Oreskovich appreciates.

“He and Marcos (Sanchez), they’re veteran guys,” Oreskovich said. “They’re guys that if they strike out, they won’t carry it into the dugout. They won’t carry it into their next (at-bat). They’re very good with that.

“He kept that presence about him. He was very mature up there. He was confident, and you could see that.”

The two teams combined for 10 scoreless innings, then the Catfish (8-15) scored without a hit in the top of the 11th.

Jackson Jarvis struck out to open the inning, but reached first on a wild pitch from C.J. Lewis (1-0). Jarvis moved to second on another wild pitch, then got to third on a passed ball. Kolton Poorman’s sacrifice fly brought Jarvis home.

That was the only blemish on an otherwise brilliant pitching performance for Lewis, who threw six innings in relief. Lewis threw just 68 pitches.

“That was incredible,” Oreskovich said. “That was huge to have, especially to keep his pitch count not absurd for six innings. Him competing out there was the best thing.”

Lewis’ work came after Bees starter Jared Townsend pitched five innings. Townsend allowed two hits in the first inning and walked two of the first three hitters to open the second before the rain delay. He then came out and got out of the second inning, then didn’t allow a hit over the final three innings.

“He went out there and completely flipped the game,” Oreskovich said.

The Bees didn’t get a hit until Sam Monroe’s infield single with one out in the sixth inning. They didn’t get another until Santiago’s single with two outs in the ninth.

“We had some good hits that were caught,” Oreskovich said.

ON DECK: The Bees play at Clinton in a 2 p.m. game on Sunday. Bees starter Trevor McGee (1-0) will face Clinton’s Brody Brecht.

Photo: Kevin Santiago gets water thrown on him after delivering the game-winning hit in the Bees’ 2-1 victory over the Cape Catfish.