It wasn’t the cleanest of games, but a win coming off a good first week of the season?
Yeah, Burlington Bees manager Owen Oreskovich will take that.
The Bees defeated the Springfield Lucky Horseshoes 8-5 in Sunday’s Prospect League game at Community Field to extend their winning streak to three games.
Burlington took advantage of Springfield’s pitching struggles to build an early 6-1 lead, but the Lucky Horseshoes made the game close because of three unearned runs from the Bees.
“It wasn’t pretty,” Oreskovich said. “And I think all of the guys agree with me. We’ve got to play clean baseball. Three errors led to runs every time, and we’ve got to clean that up.”
Still, Oreskovich, who went through the Bees’ 6-23 first half last season, knew his team had a good week.
“Absolutely. I’m not complaining about a win, by any means,” he said. “We’re off to a good start, and we’ve got to keep it rolling. This group seems like they’ve got a great chance to do that. And you know, we’re still missing a few key guys as well that are going to help us win some games. So that’s exciting as well.”
The Bees opened the season with a win at home at Quincy, then after two losses at Normal on Wednesday and Thursday bounced back with two wins at Clinton on Friday and Saturday.
Coming home and keeping that streak going, second baseman Ryan Skwarek said, was important.
“Huge,” he said. “Coming back after those two losses, getting the wins (at Clinton) and then coming home and getting a win, it’s big for us.”
Every Bees hitter reached base — Skwarek got on base four times and scored twice.
“We’re coming together as a team,” Skwarek said. “We’re still getting to know each other, but we’re just getting comfortable with one another, and we’re hunting pitches early and getting on base when we need to.”
The Bees got four runs in the first inning off Springfield starter Joey Woods (0-1), who left the game without recording an out. Burlington had just two hits in the inning — a leadoff single from Connor Kave and a run-scoring single by Corey Boyette — and benefitted from two hit batters, two wild pitches and a walk.
Bees starting pitcher Jackson Rodgers struck out six in five innings. (Steve Cirinna/Burlington Bees)
Burlington added single runs over the next four innings to help starting pitcher Jackson Rodgers (1-0) and three relievers.
Rodgers, the opening night starter for the Bees, struck out six and didn’t walk anyone in five innings to get the win.
Sunday’s game started a week in which the Bees play six games at home.
“It’s a good start, like I said,” Oreskovich said. “We just need to keep it rolling.”
NOTES: Kave extended his hitting streak to five games. Boyette, Skwarek, Caleb Seibers Conor Fitzpatrick and Keanu Spenser are on three-game hitting streaks. … The Bees play host to Normal in a noon game on Monday.
Kooper Schulte’s first batting practice session with the Burlington Bees on Tuesday was, by his description, “pretty, pretty bad.”
His first game of the Prospect League season was a lot better.
Schulte hit for the cycle, going 5-for-5 with five runs batted in the Bees’ 12-5 win over the Quincy Doggy Paddlers in the season opener at Community Field.
“It was the first time I’d hit with a wood bat in almost a year,” Schulte said of his afternoon struggles.
Schulte opened the game with a first-inning triple. He hit a two-run home run to left field in the third inning, singled home a run in the fourth, drove in two more runs with a bloop single in the fifth, then opened the seventh inning with a double.
Schulte said he wasn’t sure about the significance of what had happened when he heard the cheers after the double into the right-center field gap that gave him the cycle.
“I asked O (Bees manager Owen Oreskovich) what was going on, and he said, ‘You just hit for the cycle,’” Schulte said, smiling.
“I knew what he needed to do, but I wasn’t going to bring it up,” Oreskovich said, laughing.
Oreskovich wasn’t sure early Monday if he was going to have Schulte for the opener. Schulte, who is from nearby New London, just finished the season with Iowa — the Hawkeyes lost to UCLA in Saturday’s Big Ten Tournament semifinals — but he sent Oreskovich a text message in the afternoon that he was going to be available.
“We had exit meetings with the coaches this morning, got back to New London by 11 o’clock this morning, and I was on my way here by noon,” Schulte said.
“I’m always glad to have that kid in the lineup,” Oreskovich said.
Schulte, who hit .268 for Iowa this season, played for the Bees in 2023, hitting .373 before a hand injury ended his season. So Oreskovich knows what he has in the shortstop.
“I think it’s the way he’s brought up, you know, especially with his father being who he is (Southeastern Community College coach Justin Schulte), one of the most winningest coaches out there right now,” Oreskovich said. “But I think it’s just the way he’s brought up with his work ethic — he’s one of the hardest workers ever. And, you know, he hates losing and he hates failing.”
Burlington’s Keanu Spenser rounds the bases after his fourth-inning home run (Steve Cirinna/Burlington Bees)
The Bees broke open a 3-3 game with a four-run fourth inning capped by Keanu Spenser’s home run to deep left field. They added two runs in the fifth, two in the sixth and one in the seventh.
Everyone in the Bees’ lineup reached base. Burlington had 14 hits.
“It was awesome to see that,” Oreskovich said. “And we’ve got some guys still to come in here who can do some damage.”
The Bees went 6-23 in the first half last season, and the talk in the clubhouse before the game was about starting strong.
“These guys want to win,” Oreskovich said.
“It feels good to start out 1-0,” Schulte said. “There’s a lot of energy in here, a lot of good vibes, with a win like this.”
Parker Lewin, the second of four Bees pitchers, got the win, pitching 2 ⅓ scoreless innings.
The Bees go on the road to end the week with four games — Wednesday and Thursday at Normal and Friday and Saturday at Clinton.
“We’ve got to stay locked in,” Oreskovich said. “Going on the road is kind of always tough, especially when you’re on the road for multiple days in a row. But this is a different group, so I think they’re up for the challenge, and I don’t think it’s going to matter to them too much.”
Top photo: Bees shortstop Kooper Schulte slides into third on his first-inning triple. (Steve Cirinna/Burlington Bees)
Owen Oreskovich is in his fourth season of managing the Burlington Bees, and he’s learned that the most important thing to get through the 58-game schedule is pitching.
Lots of pitching.
The Bees open the Prospect League season on Tuesday night against the Quincy Doggy Paddlers with a roster that includes 20 pitchers. Oreskovich also has three two-way players who played the field and pitched this season with their college teams.
“Mostly, I was just recruiting pitching for a month and a half,” Oreskovich said Monday. “Because I know how it can get during the season, so that was a main focus for me. Just having a bunch of guys we can run out there if we have to.”
The depth, Oreskovich said, will help him challenge his pitchers.
“We’ve got a lot of guys, so it can be a ‘next guy up,’ but I hope we don’t run into that problem,” he said. “Throwing strikes is number one, and that’s what we want. So it will be a good challenge for them.
“Finding guys who throw a little harder was a main thing, as was finding guys that can fill the strike zone up. I have learned that throughout the years — pitching matters in this league. You can score as many runs as you want, but if you give up more, you’re gonna lose 100% of the time. So, yeah, finding a lot of pitchers was a main goal of mine.”
The roster consists of several players who have been with the Bees before. That, too, is going to be important, Oreskovich said.
“Those guys know how it is and how it goes, and how I like to do things,” Oreskovich said. “And then there’s the comfort factor of them having been in this league. They’ve been to Community Field, they love it here. They think this atmosphere is incredible. Having guys back is huge because I already know what I’m getting. It’s huge knowing that I’ve seen a lot of these guys or they have played for me.”
Oreskovich tapped into a couple of familiar pipelines. Four players played at Southeastern Community College in West Burlington. Four other players have come from Hawaii Pacific, a program that has been sending several players to the Bees in their five years in the summer league.
“The Southeastern kids, they’ve played for Coach (Justin) Schulte, and he does a great job there — those guys are winners,” Oreskovich said. “(Hawaii Pacific coach) Dane (Fujinaka) is an awesome dude, and he knows how it is here, so I like taking their guys. I’ll take his guys any day of the week, and then, you know, it’s worked out for them as well. When they go back to school, they tend to do well.”
The Bees went 17-39 last season, 6-23 in the first half. It’s a start Oreskovich doesn’t want to happen again.
“We’re not going to have a full roster for the first week, week and a half,” Oreskovich said. “Those first couple days are just going to be kind of seeing what we’ve got right and who we can plug where. It’s going to be huge to get off to a hot start. Winning is going to be emphasized in everything we do.”
Breaking down the roster:
Pitchers (20)
Kaimana Burgo (Hawaii Pacific) — 0-0 with a 15.75 ERA in eight games this season.
Colten Clarahan (Southeastern CC) — 0-1 with an 8.68 ERA.
Kaelen Clarkson (SUNY-Plattsburgh) — 2-4 with a 4.71 ERA in nine starts
Mitchell Cox (Crown College) — 0-2 with a 3.72 ERA … 33 strikeouts in 36 ⅓ innings
Jack Duncan (Western Illinois) — Pitched in one game this season, allowing two runs. … Had five saves with a 5.47 ERA with the Bees last season.
Reese Ellison (Bethel) — 0-6 with a 7.39 ERA. Struck out 23 in 28 innings. … Can also play outfield.
Zane Frese (Winthrop) — 0-0 with an 8.44 ERA. Struck out 6 in 5 ⅓ innings.
Raul Gil (Highland CC) — 1-1 with a 9.72 ERA. Struck out 24 in 16 ⅔ innings
Danny Harris (Mesa CC) — 2-4 with a 3.93 ERA and 2 saves.
Morgan Jennings (Hawaii Pacific) — Did not play this season.
Zach Leuschen (Mt. Marty) — 3-0 with 16.00 ERA in nine appearances.
Parker Lewin (Minnesota) — Did not play this season.
Alex Logan (John Wood CC — 0-1 with a 7.62 ERA and 1 save
Ethan McDonald (Eureka) — 4-3 with a 5.92 ERA. … Had two complete games in nine starts.
Erick McKendry (Allan Hancock College) — Made one appearance, with two strikeouts in one inning.
Marshall Robinson (Faulkner) — 11.81 ERA in six appearances.
Jackson Rodgers (Western Illinois) — 3-2 with a 9.85 ERA this season.
Shawn Scott (Austin Peay) — Struck out the only hitter he faced in one appearance.
Kyle Smith (University of Health and Pharmacy) — 2-2 with an 8.17 ERA in 12 appearances, including seven starts.
Braeden Sunken (Maryville) — 0-2 with a 7.43 ERA and 1 save. Struck out 17 in 13 ⅓ innings
Jacob Walker (Mt. Marty) — 2-3 with a 4.94 ERA and 2 saves. … Struck out 43 in 47 ⅓ innings
Catchers (3)
Griffen Bushnell (Mount Mercy) — Hit .455 with 2 home runs and 9 RBIs
Abrahan Rios (Southeastern CC) — Hit .294 with 6 home runs and 34 RBIs
Danny Rollins (Murray State) — Hit .250 in two games
Infielders (5)
Dash Denton (Rock Valley College) — Hit .231 with one home run and 19 RBIs
Kooper Schulte (Iowa) — Hit .273 with 3 home runs and 25 RBIs. … Hit .373 with the Bees in 2023.
Caleb Selbers (Olney Central) — Hit. 328 with 5 home runs and 39 RBIs
Keanu Spenser (Hawaii Pacific) — Hit .353 in six games with the Bees last season. … Hit .091 in nine games this season.
Kila Teixeira (Hawaii Pacific) — Did not play this season.
Corey Boyette is back for his third season with the Bees. (Steve Cirinna/Burlington Bees)
Outfielders (6)
Corey Boyette (Lipscomb) — Hit .182 in 17 games this season. … Hit .286 with the Bees in 2023 and .295 last season.
Jace Figuereo (Southeastern CC) — Batted .326 with 9 RBIs this season … Hit .238 with 11 RBIs with the Bees last season.
Conor Fitzpatrick (Eureka) — Hit .356 with 22 RBIs
Connor Kave (Harper College) — Hit .333 with 1 home run and 18 RBIs. Stole 21 bases.
Caleb Klein (Southeastern CC) — Hit .333 with 7 home runs and 61 RBIs
Cole Yearsley (Winthrop) — Hit .250 with 2 home runs at 28 RBIs
Utility (3)
Noah Company (Eureka) — Hit .267 with 2 HRs and 14 RBIs … 0-3 with a 7.80 ERA
Ethan McDonald (Eureka) — Hit .139 with 6 RBIs. … 4-3 with a 5.92 ERA, with 48 strikeouts in 48 ⅔ innings.
Ryan Skwarek (McHenry) — Hit .412 with 58 RBIs … 2-2 with a 1.59 ERA, with 20 strikeouts in 17 innings.
Top photo: Keanu Spenser steals second base in a game last season. (Steve Cirinna/Burlington Bees)
IOWA CITY — Kooper Schulte was described as “a true son of a coach” by his new college coach, and that is the perfect description.
Schulte will be the starting shortstop for Iowa when the Hawkeyes open the season with a three-game series at South Florida, starting Friday.
It is Schulte’s first season with the Hawkeyes after two seasons of junior-college baseball, and it’s a chance for him to play in the same program where his father, Justin, was a player before becoming one of the top junior-college coaches in the nation.
It is that bloodline that coach Rick Heller can see in Schulte.
“Really good baseball player, that’s the best way to sum it up,” Heller said at the Hawkeyes’ media day earlier this week. “He’s got a lot of intangibles to his game. Justin is a tough guy, he brings a lot of toughness to his teams, and Koop has that. He’s just a steady Eddie in how he goes about his business.”
The chance to play at Iowa was something Schulte couldn’t pass up.
“My dad played here, and obviously it’s a great program, so it’s pretty special for me to be a part of it,” Schulte said. “Coming from a coach like him, he asks a lot of questions about the program, what do we do and stuff. But at the end of the day, he just tells me to trust the coaches, do what they say, and just work hard.”
Schulte is coming off a season at Southeastern Community College, where he played for his father. He hit .317 with eight home runs and 45 runs batted in, becoming a first-team all-region selection while leading the Blackhawks to the NJCAA World Series.
Schulte, a graduate of New London (Iowa) High School, played at Central Arizona Community College in 2023. He played that summer for the Burlington Bees in the Prospect League, hitting .373 in 19 games before suffering a season-ending hand injury.
He played last summer for the Waterloo Bucks in the Northwoods League. He hit just .170, but appreciated what he gained from a higher competition level of summer baseball.
“I didn’t play the best baseball, but it was a good experience playing with a lot of other guys from Division I schools,” Schulte said. “So I got that little experience before coming here.”
Schulte spent Iowa’s fall workouts on different parts of his game.
“I worked a lot on my hitting, really honed in on my mechanics, really tried to feel myself create more power, use my strength more in my swing,” Schulte said.
“I think that there’s a chance that he may surprise some people and provide maybe a little more offense than advertised,” Heller said. “I think he’s done some stuff in his swing with Marty Sutherland, our hitting coach, and he’s strong right now. The ball’s jumping off his bat. And so we’re hoping we can get some offense out of Koop as well.”
Heller said Schulte has been impressive with his defense.
“Koop is maybe the perfect guy to come in after Michael Seegers,” Heller said. “Michael was down there a long time, and was a big-time defender for us. I think Koop can step in and do a really solid job defensively.”
“He’s always been a really good defender in my eyes, and just like his dad, he’s always been super competitive,” said Iowa teammate Caleb Wulf, who played with Schulte at SCC and with the Bees. “He always knows how to win and how to put himself in the best position to succeed or do the job we need him to do.”
Schulte will return to the Bees this summer, but before that he will get a chance in the starting lineup of a program that is all too familiar to him.
“Coach Heller really wants me to just be that defensive player that I know I can be,” Schulte said. “So I take pride in my defense, make all the plays and if I hit, that’s a plus. But I’m really glad I’m here and getting this opportunity.”
Photo: Kooper Schulte fields a ground ball for the Burlington Bees in the 2023 season. (Steve Cirinna/Burlington Bees)
The Burlington Bees’ front office will have a slightly different look next season.
Jill Mason has been named the general manager after four years of being the assistant GM. Blaise Rosson has been hired as the new assistant general manager and director of stadium operations. Ted Gutman, in his 26th year with the Bees, will become director of baseball operations.
Mason has been with the Bees since 2013. She holds a bachelor’s degree in marketing from Western Illinois University.
“Stepping into the role of General Manager, I’m beyond honored to lead this team forward with the strength of this incredible community behind us,” Mason said in a statement. “Together, we’ll keep building something special, continuing the tradition of Burlington Bees Baseball.”
Rosson, a Burlington native, served as a marketing intern for the club last season. He is a 2024 graduate of Iowa State University with a degree in marketing.
“It’s an honor to join the Burlington Bees front office,” said Rosson. “Growing up in Burlington and going to Bees games helped lead to my love of the game of baseball.”
The Bees open their fifth season in the Prospect League on May 27, when they play host to Quincy.
For a while, the Burlington Bees’ game against the Springfield Lucky Horseshoes looked like it was going to be one of “those nights” of plenty of runs at Community Field.
But while the Lucky Horseshoes kept hitting and scoring, the Bees’ bats suddenly went silent.
Springfield broke open what was a close game with 10 runs over the final three innings, defeating the Bees 15-4 in seven innings in Monday’s Prospect League game.
All of Burlington’s six hits came in the first three innings, as the last 13 hitters were retired in order after the Bees had cut Springfield’s lead to 5-4.
The penultimate home game of the season started out as one of those games where it looked like both teams might get to double-digit run totals. Springfield scored two in the first inning and three in the second, while the Bees got a run back in the bottom of the second and then scored four runs in the third.
But Lucky Horseshoes starter Joshua Mauney (6-1) settled in, keeping the Bees scoreless in the fourth, fifth and sixth.
Springfield got two runs in the fifth, added two more in the sixth, then a six-run seventh clinched the win.
Wandel Campana, Bryan Barreto and Enrico Veach each had three hits for the Lucky Horseshoes. Springfield had 18 hits, but only four were for extra bases.
Brady Richards (1-1) was the losing pitcher.
Photo: Burlington’s Skyler Agnew steals second base in the third inning. (Steve Cirinna/Burlington Bees)
Baseball has been a big part of Merrick Mathews’ life.
His grandfather, Rick, played and coached at Indian Hills Community College, worked with the Colorado Rockies as the team’s bullpen coach and is now a scout for the team.
His father, Jonathan, had a similar path — played and coached at Indian Hills, and is now a roving hitting instructor for the San Diego Padres.
Merrick is on his own journey now. He played two seasons at Indian Hills before heading to Iowa, where he will be a senior this season.
He’s been one of the constants in the Burlington Bees’ lineup this summer in the Prospect League.
“I don’t know what his numbers are, but I know he’s been a big part of the team,” Bees manager Owen Oreskovich said. “I think he’s been huge for us.”
Mathews, who hit .300 with just 10 at-bats for the Hawkeyes this spring, came to Burlington hoping for a chance to play.
“It’s gone good — I’ve really enjoyed it here,” he said. “I just wanted to come get some at-bats and have a good time, and fortunately I’ve been able to do both.”
Mathews, who has been in the lineup either as a first baseman or designated hitter, has impressed Oreskovich with his approach.
“He goes about everything like a professional,” Oreskovich said. “His eye in the (batter’s) box, he really works on that. And just the way he goes about his business — he’s a fun kid in the clubhouse, fun to be around. But when it matters, when it comes down to game time, he’s ready.”
Mathews’ approach has come from being around baseball all of his life.
“I’ve gained a lot of knowledge, learning about the game, the game within the game,” he said. “Just hearing from other hitters on the right approach at the plate, I’ve learned so much.”
Mathews played in 79 games in two seasons at Indian Hills — he hit .285 and drove in a team-high 39 runs in 2023 — but played in nine games with the Hawkeyes this season, with one start.
“I wasn’t too upset,” he said. “The biggest thing was I wanted to win baseball games, and whatever I could do to help the team I was going to do.”
Coming to Burlington was important, he said, to get as much game time as he could.
“I was seeing it pretty good this summer,” Mathews said. “I didn’t necessarily have a good season at the plate, but it was good to see pitches, just stay in a rhythm.”
The game time has also helped Mathews with his defense.
“I feel like I got a lot better at defense in the summer,” he said. “I thought I struggled a bit in the spring, but just getting all of the reps this summer really helped my game.”
Mathews’ family, including his father and grandfather, has been able to see him play this summer.
“My dad got to come to some Iowa games, and he’s been here,” Mathews said. “He doesn’t really tell me things to work on. He tells me to just keep doing what I’m doing, keep putting the work in, keep playing hard.”
The Bees’ season will end this week. Mathews said he plans on taking a week off before heading back to Iowa to prepare for the fall season.
“It’s helped a ton, being able to play at a place like this, and play with these dudes,” Mathews said. “It’s a great group of guys, a great coaching staff. It’s a lot of fun just being able to play every night with them. Hopefully I can take what I’ve learned and keep it rolling when I get back to Iowa.”
Photo: Bees first baseman Merrick Mathews has played in 39 games this season, second-most on the team. (Steve Cirinna/Burlington Bees)
The Burlington Bees head into the final week of the Prospect League season with some momentum from Saturday’s doubleheader sweep of the Normal CornBelters at Community Field.
The 6-1 win in the first game and the 11-7 win in the second game featured key moments provided by players who have been here since the beginning of the season.
“That dedication means a lot, because you don’t see too much of that nowadays,” Bees manager Owen Oreskovich said. “They love baseball just as much as I do, and that’s an incredible thing to see. Them sticking out, I really appreciate them for that. They’ll never know how much I appreciate that, even if I tell them that. But it means a lot to me.”
Thirteen players on the Burlington roster were on the original roster to start the season. And when the Bees needed big plays in their offensive outbursts in both games, it was the veterans who stepped up:
• Cooper Donlin was 4-for-6 in the doubleheader and scored four runs.
• Cedric Dunnwald and Merrick Mathews each drove in runs in the five-run sixth inning that broke open a 1-1 game in the first game.
• Christian Dunn was 2-for-3 and drove in two runs in the second game.
• Michael Schaul gave up one run in five innings in the first game.
• Jack Duncan got the save in the second game.
The Bees (11-12 second half) head to Clinton on Sunday for an afternoon game against the LumberKings, who have a two-game lead on Springfield and a three-game lead on Burlington for the Northwest Division’s second-half playoff spot. Three of the Bees’ final four games are against the LumberKings.
“You weren’t in here right after the game when I told the guys what time we were leaving tomorrow,” Oreskovich said. “They’re excited to go compete, go play another game, show everybody what they can do.
“I’m proud of our guys. We used a lot of guys in the second game, everybody did good things, so that was good.”
The Bees trailed 5-2 in the fifth inning of the second game before striking for five runs to take the lead. Jace Figuereo’s double drove in two runs for a 6-5 lead, then Jeremy Figueroa added an RBI single.
Normal tied the game at 7 in the top of the sixth on Tyler Thompson’s two-run single, but the Bees came right back with four runs in the bottom of the inning. Dunn’s sacrifice fly broke the tie, then Jayden Cummings’ infield single followed by Figuereo’s two-run triple provided the final margin.
Tucker Ladeburg (1-0) got the win in the first game. Brady Richards (1-1) was the winner in the second game.
It’s the final two weeks of the Prospect League’s regular season, and two natural occurrences are happening to the Burlington Bees’ roster.
There are players leaving, and there are some players coming in just to get some innings and some at-bats before the summer ends.
The new players for the Bees all had significant moments in Monday’s game against Clinton at Community Field, but it wasn’t enough to prevent a 4-2 loss to the LumberKings.
The Bees’ roster is down to 29 players — league rules allow up to 40 players — and it’s something Owen Oreskovich has grown accustomed to in his three seasons as manager.
“It’s always challenging this time of year,” Oreskovich said. “You don’t really know until you’ve got to deal with it. It’s different every year. It’s just a different challenge we have to take on every day.”
The newcomers all played a part in the game.
Michael Carrano Jr., whose first game with the Bees was nine days ago, provided Burlington’s only runs with a two-run home run in the second inning.
Justin Hackett, a right-handed pitcher from Iowa, got his first start for the Bees. Hackett, who is commuting between Iowa City and Burlington for his starts, struck out five in four innings, but was touched for three runs in the third inning on just two hits. He closed strong, striking out the side in the fourth inning.
“He lost a little bit (in the third),” Oreskovich said. “But (the fourth) will really benefit him, the way he finished.”
Brady Richards, who made his first appearance for the Bees five days ago, allowed one run over four innings, getting big plays behind him to get out of two jams.
Richards allowed a walk and a double to open the fifth. Jalen Martinez singled to right field to score Jaden Hackbarth, but first baseman Merrick Mathews made a smart play cutting off Cooper Donlin’s throw home, and threw out Martinez at second base. Richards then got out of the inning without allowing any more runs.
Richards walked the first two hitters of the sixth, then got Noah Gordon to hit a grounder to third baseman Skyler Agnew. Agnew tried to tag out Brett White coming from second to third, but base umpire Jacob Hudson ruled White was out of the baseline and called him out. Agnew threw to second for the force out, but the throw to first for a possible triple play was just a bit late. Richards then struck out Hackbarth, then retired the next six hitters to end his night.
“Brady’s been really good both times he’s pitched for us,” Oreskovich said.
Clinton starter Blake Gaskey struck out five in six innings. (Steve Cirinna/Burlington Bees)
The Bees, who had eight hits, had runners in scoring position in the eighth and ninth innings, but couldn’t score.
“We got the hits, we just didn’t get them at the right time,” Oreskovich said.
Clinton starter Blake Gaskey (1-0), making his first appearance of the season, allowed six hits and struck out five over six innings without walking anyone. Gaskey pitched for the Bees early last season, and also played two seasons at Southeastern Community College in West Burlington before pitching at Ohio this season.
The Bees (8-9 second half) fell 3 ½ games behind the LumberKings for the Northwest Division’s second-half playoff spot with 10 games left in the season.
Photo: Bees catcher Michael Carrano Jr. (39) celebrates his home run with Merrick Mathews and Boston Halloran. (Steve Cirinna/Burlington Bees)
It got loud at Community Field, that late-season-need-a-win kind of loud.
Ninety decibels, according to the watch of one fan, as Bryce Brown’s double sliced the right-center field gap and Jeremy Figueroa and Corey Boyette raced home with the tying and winning runs as the Burlington Bees defeated the Clinton LumberKings, 7-6, on Saturday night.
The second largest crowd of the season — attendance was announced at 2,262 — saw the Bees continuously slug back at their Northwest Division rivals, overcoming a crucial call in the ninth inning to close within three games of the LumberKings for the division’s second-half spot in the Prospect League playoffs.
“We’re trying to make a playoff push, so every win matters,” said Brown, who had three hits to push his batting average to .391. “Every game matters, especially against them, because we’re a few games back.
“Great crowd. Great vibe here tonight.”
“Big crowd — it was awesome,” Bees manager Owen Oreskovich said. “I love having them here. You know, it felt like a playoff atmosphere. It’s nice to play in front of crowds like this.
“They had our backs tonight.”
The Bees looked to be in position to tie the game earlier in the ninth. Pinch-hitter Cooper Donlin singled and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Donlin then appeared to advance to third base on Cedric Dunnwald’s flyout to center field, but after an appeal base umpire Jacob Hudson ruled Dunnwald had left early and called him out.
“I asked (Hudson) for an explanation, he said (Donlin) left early, so…” Oreskovich said, shrugging.
The call looked even bigger when Figueroa hit a slow ground ball to shortstop, reaching on an error. Boyette then followed with a single, bringing up Brown.
“We could have just rolled over there after that call,” Brown said. “Then we get the grounder and then the line drive to right field to bring me up. That doesn’t happen if we roll over.”
Brown then drilled the ball into the gap. Figueroa scored easily, and then Boyette was waved in, easily beating the throw to the plate.
That’s when it really got loud.
“The guys in front of me extended the game,” Brown said. “I knew I was going to get a ball in the (strike) zone, because he’s not going to spike a pitch in that situation.”
“We had some good hitters coming up after Figgy there, so I knew we had a chance,” Oreskovich said. “I was confident. Brownie’s probably swinging the hottest back in the Prospect League right now.
“We had three good hitters step up, get on base. That was huge.”
The Bees tied the game twice and led once through the first six innings, then, trailing 6-5, held the LumberKings scoreless the rest of the game. Jack Duncan pitched 2 ⅓ scoreless innings in relief of starter Michael Schaul, then Erik Kiewiet (2-1) got the win, getting out of a bases-loaded situation in the ninth without giving up a run.
“Just great pitching there late, and I thought Mike did a good job with the start,” Oreskovich said.
It was the fifth consecutive home win for the Bees.
“Our guys don’t give up,” Oreskovich said. “They’re showing a lot of resilience right now.”
“Huge win.”
Photo: Bryce Brown follows through on his game-winning hit in the bottom of the ninth inning (Steve Cirinna/Burlington Bees)
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