2012 Gene Cusic Collegiate Classic in Ft. Myers, FL
March 19, 2012
GAME #1
Knox 15
Plymouth State 8
Box Score
GAME #2
Plymouth State 12
Knox 6
Box Score
The Prairie Fire continued its recent offensive surge on Monday and split a doubleheader against Plymouth State University.
Knox (4-7) scored 39 runs in the last four games, or nearly 10 per contest, against opponents with combined records of 21-9. The games against the Plymouth State (6-2) concluded the Prairie Fire’s stay in Florida, where the team also posted wins against Lakeland College and Salem State University.
Junior Caleb Weaver (Galesburg, IL, Galesburg), senior David Jewell (Spring Grove, IL, Richmond-Burton), and junior Kyle Walenga (San Francisco, CA, Waldorf) each made major contributions on offense in the opener against the Cougars (6-2).
Weaver belted a three-run homer in the first inning and went 4-for-5 at the plate with four RBI. Jewell was 3-for-4, all of his hits doubles, and drove in three runs. Walenga went 2-for-3 and scored three runs.
Plymouth scored two runs off Knox starting pitcher, sophomore Paul Mills (Moline, IL, Moline), in the bottom of the first – one on an RBI double and the other on a run scoring single – to slice the Prairie Fire lead to 3-2.
Knox plated a run in the top of the third on an RBI single by Weaver to go up 4-2 .
The Prairie Fire put the game away with three runs in the third, three in the fourth and five in the fifth. Plymouth State scored three runs in the fourth to trim the deficit from 7-2 to 7-5. The Cougars trailed 15-5 going into their final at-bats in the bottom of the seventh inning before scoring three runs to account for the final score.
The Fire outhit the Cougars 12-11 in game one of the twinbill and both teams left seven men on base.
Junior Gabe Ayers (Hanna City, IL, Farmington Community ) (1-0) earned the win on the mound for Knox in relief of Mills. Ayers pitched 3 1/3 innings and allowed three runs on seven hits while striking out three.
Mills tossed 3 2/3 innings. He gave up five runs on four hits with six strikeouts and three walks.
Plymouth State scored single tallies in the first and second innings of the second game of the day against Prairie Fire sophomore starting pitcher Dustin Armstrong (Cincinnati, OH, Country Day) for a 2-0 lead.
Knox took a 3-2 lead with a three-run third inning. Two runs scored on one of two PSU errors in the inning. The third run crossed the plate on a double by Weaver.
Plymouth State tied the game at 3-3 with a run in the top of the fourth inning with two outs against first-year Knox hurler Nathaniel Grady (Antelope, CA, Oakmont).
The Cougars used a big fifth inning to take control of the game. The five run frame began with Grady hitting the lead-off batter. Plymouth State racked up five hits and led 8-3 when the third out was recorded.
Knox cut into the lead with three runs in its half of the fifth. Sophomore Erik Smoy (Hoffman Estates, IL, Hoffman Estates) singled and was the first of three consecutive hitters to reach base. Following a fielder’s choice that cut down Smoy at third base, Weaver smashed his second three-run homer of the day with one out to trim the Plymouth State lead to 8-6. A fly out and a ground out ended the inning.
PSU touched Grady for six runs on six hits in two innings pitched. First-year hurler Kenny Blanchard (Morton Grove, IL, Niles West) came on for Grady in the sixth inning.
Plymouth State greeted him with a single to lead off the inning, during which the Cougars scored four runs on four more hits for a commanding 12-6 lead.
Weaver singled but was left stranded on base in the Prairie Fire’s final at-bat in the seventh. He finished with another big game, going 3-for-4 with a home run and four runs batted in.
Grady (0-2) suffered the loss. PSU outhit Knox 14-7.
The Prairie Fire resumes play on Sunday, March 25 when the team travels to Jacksonville, Illinois for a doubleheader against Midwest Conference South Division foe Illinois College (9-4). The game was originally scheduled on Saturday, March 24, but was moved back a day to try to get the IC baseball field ready. The first pitch for the opening game is at 12:00 p.m.
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March 18, 2012
Knox 12
Salem State 1
Box Score
The Prairie Fire got a strong starting pitching performance and hit the ball well in a win on Sunday that snapped a five game slide.
Sophomore Peter Marquardt (Clarendon Hills, lL, Hinsdale Central) (2-0) threw seven sharp innings, allowing one earned run and striking out two to earn the victory. He got into a groove on the mound, retiring 13 of the last 15 batters he faced.
Junior Caleb Weaver (Galesburg, IL, Galesburg) and sophomore Michael O'Connell (Park Ridge, IL, Maine South) combined to drive in six runs for Knox. Weaver was 4-for-6 at the plate with three runs batted in. He was a home run short of hitting for the cycle. O'Connell also had four hits (4-for-5) and three RBI.
After the Prairie Fire and Salem State University (8-3) both scored a run in the first inning, Knox (3-6) snapped the 1-1 tie with a run in the fourth on an RBI single by sophomore Doug Lillibridge (Byron, IL, Byron ) for a 2-1 lead.
The Fire exploded on offense with four runs in the fifth, three in the sixth, and three more in the seventh for a 12-1 advantage. The Prairie Fire outhit the Vikings 16-5. Juniors Matt Lee (Fullerton, CA, Servite) and Michael Schroeder (Glenview, IL, Glenbrook South) added two hits apiece. Schroeder, who tripled in the game, also drove in a pair of runs.
The Knox bullpen held Salem State in check over the last two innings. Sophomores Bryan Leslie (Richmond, IL, Richmond-Burton) and Jackson White (Grayslake, IL, Grayslake Central) each tossed a scoreless frame.
The Prairie Fire concludes its trip to Florida with a doubleheader on Monday against Plymouth State University. The Cougars are off to a 4-0 start prior to a doubleheader on Sunday in Fort Myers.
March 17, 2012
SUNY New Paltz 12
Knox 9
Box Score
The Prairie Fire offense was clicking but it wasn’t enough in a loss to SUNY New Paltz (NY) on Saturday.
Knox (2-6) plated three runs in the first inning on just one hit for the early lead. New Paltz pitching walked three batters and hit another. Sophomore Michael O'Connell (Park Ridge, IL, Maine South) was credited with an RBI after walking, scoring junior Matt Lee (Fullerton, CA, Servite) for a 1-0 Prairie Fire advantage. The two other runs scored when junior Michael Schroeder (Glenview, IL, Glenbrook South) was hit by a pitch and sophomore Jackson White (Grayslake, IL, Grayslake Central) grounded out to shortstop.
Sophomore Doug Lillibridge (Byron, IL, Byron), making his first start on the mound for the Prairie Fire, had a 1-2-3 first inning.
The Fire added a run in the second inning to extend the lead to 4-0. Junior Ryan Hoffman (Sugar Grove, IL, Marmion Academy), the team’s leading hitter coming into the game, singled home senior David Jewell (Spring Grove, IL, Richmond-Burton), who was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning.
New Paltz (7-4) scored three runs on two hits and an error in the bottom of the second inning to trim the Knox lead to 4-3.
Knox scored for the third consecutive inning with a run in the third to go up 5-3. O’Connell, who walked to lead off the inning, later scored on a double play to give his team a two run lead.
The Prairie Fire a pair of runs in the sixth inning to increase the advantage to 7-3 over the Hawks. An RBI single by Hoffman scored sophomore Erik Smoy (Hoffman Estates, IL, Hoffman Estates) and Schroeder singled to drive home Hoffman.
The Knox pitching staff, which blanked New Paltz the third through sixth innings, ran into trouble in the seventh.
Lillibridge departed after three innings pitched and did not factor in the decision. He allowed three runs on three hits. Sophomore Dustin Armstrong (Cincinnati, OH, Country Day) relieved Lillibridge to start the fourth frame.
New Paltz, after the leadoff hitter popped out, scored five runs on five hits and took advantage of two Prairie Fire errors to take an 8-7 lead. Sophomore Bryan Leslie (Richmond, IL, Richmond-Burton) came on for Armstrong with two outs in the seventh inning and eventually got the final out on a line drive to center.
Knox was unable to score in the eighth inning, stranding junior Caleb Weaver (Galesburg, IL, Galesburg) on base after he singled with two out.
The Hawks put together another big offensive inning in the bottom of the eighth with four more runs on a pair of hits for a 12-7 lead. Three of the four runs allowed by junior Gabe Ayers (Hanna City, IL, Farmington Community), who was called on to pitch the eighth, were unearned because of a pair of errors by the Prairie Fire.
Schroeder walked to lead off the bottom of the ninth inning with Knox needing a big rally. Following a fly out to center by White, junior Kyle Walenga (San Francisco, CA, Waldorf) tripled home Schroeder to make it a 12-8 game. Jewell made the second out of the inning with a fly out to center. Smoy kept the Prairie Fire alive with an RBI single that scored Walenga and trimmed the New Paltz lead to 12-9. The rally and the game ended when Hoffman grounded out to third.
Both teams finished with 14 hits. Knox committed six errors in the game.
Armstrong (0-1) took the loss in relief after he pitched 3 2/3 innings and allowed four earned runs on eight hits and struck out two.
Hoffman led the offense with a 3-for-5 performance at the plate and two runs batted in. Schroeder also had a nice day, going 2-for-2 with two RBI. Smoy, Weaver, and White also had two hits apiece – with Smoy and White driving in a run.
Next up for the Prairie Fire is a game on Saturday morning against Salem State University. The first pitch is scheduled at 9:00 a.m.
March 16, 2012
Kenyon 21
Knox 1
Box Score
Two streaks stayed intact when the Prairie Fire played Kenyon College (OH) on Friday, which was bad news for Knox.
The Fire (2-5) lost for the fourth consecutive time 21-1 to Kenyon (11-5), which earned its third straight victory.
The Lords jumped on Knox starting pitcher, first-year Kenny Blanchard (Morton Grove, IL, Niles West), right away by scoring eight runs on five hits in the first inning.
Kenyon lead-off hitter Jake Dunn, who had a big day at the plate, began the game by reaching on an infield error. He stole second base, advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored on a double by Jesse Weiss for a 1-0 lead. A pair of two-run doubles in the inning made it 5-0. Kenyon batted around in the inning, sending Dunn back to the plate with two men on and two out. Dunn homered to give his team an 8-0 lead.
The Prairie Fire avoided being shut out by scoring a run in the bottom of the seventh inning. Senior David Jewell (Spring Grove, IL, Richmond-Burton) walked with one out, advanced to second base on a wild pitch. He stole third base and then scored on an error by the catcher. Knox was unable to add on more runs after junior Kyle Walenga (San Francisco, CA, Waldorf) walked and moved up to second on a wild pitch. Back-to-back singles by first-year players Derek Cochran (Auburn, IL, Auburn) and Michael Bohnhoff (Omaha, NE, Mt. Michael Benedictine) loaded the bases, but a double play ground out killed the rally.
Kenyon plated a pair of runs in the second inning and seven more in the third for 17-0 lead. The Lords scored twice in the fifth frame and once in the seventh before Knox got on the board to make it 20-1.
Kenyon added a final tally in the bottom of the seventh to close out the scoring.
The Lords outhit the Prairie Fire 21-7 and had four home runs in the game. Junior Ryan Hoffman (Sugar Grove, IL, Marmion Academy) increased his batting average to .556 with a 2-for-2 performance at the plate.
Blanchard (0-1) took the loss for Knox after one inning of work. He allowed eight runs, seven earned, on five hits with a strikeout and two walks.
Sophomores Paul Mills (Moline, IL, Moline) and Peter Marquardt (Clarendon Hills, lL, Hinsdale Central), first-year hurler Andrew Sparrow (Sullivan, IL, Sullivan), and junior Nikko Juarez (Momence, IL, Bishop McNamara) also saw action on the mound for the Fire. Marquardt had a solid outing, throwing 1 1/3 innings of hitless relief.
Knox is back in action on Saturday against SUNY New Paltz (6-4) at 12:00 p.m. The Prairie Fire will try to halt the Hawks’ three game winning streak.
March 15, 2012
GAME #1
Dubuque 16
Knox 3
Box Score
GAME #2
Dubuque 9
Knox 4
Box Score
The Prairie Fire had a rough day on Thursday, dropping both games of a doubleheader against the University of Dubuque.
Knox got off to a good start in the opener with three runs in the first inning. Junior Ryan Hoffman (Sugar Grove, IL, Marmion Academy) drove home a run with a one out single and junior Kyle Walenga (San Francisco, CA, Waldorf) gave the Fire a 3-0 lead when he singled home two more runs.
Dubuque responded with two runs in the bottom of the first inning off Knox junior starter Ryan Stoens (Bartonville, IL, Limestone) to trim the deficit to 3-2. The Spartans had a big second inning, exploding for seven runs on five hits to take a 9-3 lead.
Dubuque added one run in the third inning and six more in the fourth. Meanwhile, the Spartans held the Prairie Fire offense to one hit, a single by sophomore Erik Smoy (Hoffman Estates, IL, Hoffman Estates), after the first inning.
Mark Hennessy went five innings and allowed three earned runs on four hits while striking out eight. Elliott Visuri struck out two in a pair of hitless innings of relief.
Stoens (0-1) took the loss on the mound for Knox. He allowed 15 earned runs on 17 hits with five walks and one strikeout in four innings. Sophomore Jackson White (Grayslake, IL, Grayslake Central) relieved Stoens and gave up just one hit in two scoreless innings of work.
The University of Dubuque began the second game with a run in the first inning off first-year pitcher Nathaniel Grady (Antelope, CA, Oakmont), who made his first college start.
The first three hitters for the Spartans reached base before Grady struck out clean-up hitter Spencer Kuehn with the bases loaded. Dubuque plated a run with a single by Zakary Kilpatrick for a 1-0 lead. Grady got out of the inning by recording a fly out and a strike out.
The Prairie Fire tied the contest at 1-1 with a run in the bottom half of the first. Sophomore Michael O'Connell (Park Ridge, IL, Maine South) walked with one out, advanced to second on a single by junior Caleb Weaver (Galesburg, IL, Galesburg) and scored on a base hit by senior David Jewell (Spring Grove, IL, Richmond-Burton).
Like the Prairie Fire, Dubuque prevented a big first inning by getting out of a jam. Weaver was thrown out at home trying to score on a single by Hoffman for the second out. First-year player Kenny Blanchard (Morton Grove, IL, Niles West) flied out to right field to end the threat, leaving two men on base.
The Spartans (10-4) took advantage of four Knox errors in the second inning and scored three runs without a hit to reclaim the lead at 4-1.
The Prairie Fire cut Dubuque’s lead in half at 4-2 in the third inning on a run-scoring single by Blanchard.
UD scored two more runs in the top of the fourth to go up 6-2. Kyle Duggan led off with a single and scored on a double by Nick Martin. Grady got the next two hitters to ground out, but an infield error allowed Martin to cross the plate for the four run lead.
Knox (2-5) plated a run in the top of the fifth on O’Connell’s RBI single to trim the UD advantage to 6-3.
The Spartans added two runs in their half of the fifth inning. Grady got the leadoff hitter to fly out and was replaced by junior Gabe Ayers (Hanna City, IL, Farmington Community). Ayers gave up a single to Conor Kelley and then hit Duggan to put two runners on base for UD. Ayers got Martin to ground out, but Ryan Tackitt reached on an infield error that scored both Duggan and Kelley. A ground out ended the inning with Knox trailing 8-3.
Both teams added a run in the seventh inning. Dubuque’s Martin hit a sac fly that scored Duggan, who was hit by a pitch from sophomore reliever Dustin Armstrong (Cincinnati, OH, Country Day) and then swiped second and third base for a 9-3 lead.
The Fire’s last tally of the afternoon was scored by Weaver, who was hit by a pitch and came around to score on an RBI double by Hoffman.
Knox outhit the Spartans 11-8 but committed six errors. Hoffman led the offense with three hits and an RBI while Blanchard and Jewell added two hits apiece and each drove in a run.
Grady suffered the loss for the Prairie Fire after pitching 4 1/3 innings. He surrendered six runs, two of them earned, on six hits and struck out two. Ayers followed with 1 2/3 innings of relief, allowing two unearned runs and two hits with a pair of strikeouts. Armstrong gave up a run and struck out one in his inning of relief.
Joshua Eastman picked up the win for Dubuque with four innings pitched and three strikeouts. Knox reached him for nine hits and three earned runs. Paul Krenger threw three innings out of the bullpen, surrendering just two hits and striking out two.
Knox tries to put the brakes on a three-game losing streak on Friday against Kenyon College (OH). The Lords are 10-5 overall after beating Mitchell College 6-2 on Wednesday, their second straight victory.
March 14, 2012
Central 16
Knox 1
Box Score
Prairie Fire pitching gave up 13 hits and issued seven walks while the defense committed six errors in a loss to the Dutch on Wednesday.
Central (7-2) scored two runs in the first inning and five in the second to take an early 7-0 lead. Knox starter, sophomore Paul Mills (Moline, IL, Moline) (0-2), exited the game after throwing 1 2/3 innings. He allowed seven runs, six of them earned, four hits and walked three in taking the loss.
Central added another run in the third for an 8-0 lead before Knox (2-2) had its first hit of the game.
Sophomore Erik Smoy (Hoffman Estates, IL, Hoffman Estates), junior Matt Lee (Fullerton, CA, Servite), and junior Caleb Weaver (Galesburg, IL, Galesburg) had consecutive singles to start the fourth inning. Central starting and winning pitcher Joel Pulliam got senior David Jewell (Spring Grove, IL, Richmond-Burton) to hit into a double play, which scored Smoy, then induced a ground out off the bat of first-year Andrew Sparrow (Sullivan, IL, Sullivan) to limit the damage to one run.
The Dutch put the game out of reach with an eight run fifth inning that included six hits and three Knox errors.
Down 16-1 in their final at-bat, first-year player Austen Lake (Albers, IL, Breese Central) walked with one out but was left on base when the next two Knox hitters popped out and struck out looking.
Central outhit the Fire 13-4.
The loss snapped a two-game winning streak for the Prairie Fire, which split a doubleheader against Central to begin the season on March 3 in Jacksonville, Illinois.
Next up for Knox is a twinbill on Thursday against the University of Dubuque that begins at 9:00 a.m. The Spartans (8-4) got off to a hot start by winning their first seven games before dropping four of their last five.
March 13, 2012
Knox 7
Lakeland 3
Box Score
The Prairie Fire began the 2012 spring trip on a good note with a win against Lakeland College (WI).
Knox (2-1) came from behind to post the victory, its second straight, after Lakeland scored three runs on two hits in the top of the first inning off sophomore lefty starter Peter Marquardt (Clarendon Hills, lL, Hinsdale Central).
The Prairie Fire broke through in the bottom of the third after Marquardt escaped a one out, bases-loaded jam by coaxing a double-play in the top half of the inning and stranding three Lakeland runners. Sophomore Jackson White (Grayslake, IL, Grayslake Central) led off the Knox third with a double. He moved to second on a sac fly by sophomore Michael O'Connell (Park Ridge, IL, Maine South) and scored on a single by junior Caleb Weaver (Galesburg, IL, Galesburg) to trim the deficit to 3-1.
Marquardt pitched a third straight scoreless inning for the Prairie Fire. The only base runner in the fourth frame for Lakeland (4-1) reached on a single, but junior catcher Kyle Walenga (San Francisco, CA, Waldorf) threw him out trying to steal second -- one of three runners Walenga cut down trying to swipe a bag in the game.
The Muskies failed again to score in the fifth inning despite tallying three hits. Marquardt made way for first-year hurler Kenny Blanchard (Morton Grove, IL, Niles West), who came on with runners on first and third with two outs. Blanchard got the only hitter he faced in the inning to ground out.
Marquardt finished strong after giving up three first inning runs. He tossed 4 2/3 innings and allowed three earned runs on 10 hits with three strikeouts.
The Knox bats came alive in the home half of the fifth. O’Connell walked, advanced to second on a wild pitch and then stole third. Senior David Jewell (Spring Grove, IL, Richmond-Burton) drew a two-out walk and junior Ryan Hoffman (Sugar Grove, IL, Marmion Academy) drove O’Connell home with a single to cut the Lakeland lead to 3-2. Junior Matt Lee (Fullerton, CA, Servite) provided the big blow in the inning with a two-out, two-run triple that gave the Prairie Fire a 4-3 lead.
Blanchard held Lakeland to a pair of singles and no runs in the sixth inning to keep Knox on top by a run.
The Prairie Fire added to the lead with three more runs in the bottom of the sixth. Junior Michael Schroeder (Glenview, IL, Glenbrook South) led off with a single and was sacrificed to second base by White. Sophomore Erik Smoy (Hoffman Estates, IL, Hoffman Estates) walked, and after O’Connell went down on strikes, Weaver drove Schroeder and Smoy home with a triple to extend the lead to 6-3. Knox added one more run in the inning on an RBI single by Jewell for a four run cushion.
Junior Gabe Ayers (Hanna City, IL, Farmington Community) allowed a harmless single in the seventh inning in relief of Blanchard, who tossed 1 1/3 scoreless innings, allowing two hits and striking out one.
The Knox bullpen prevented Lakeland from scoring in the final two innings while stranding a combined three runners.
The Muskies worked Ayers for a walk and a single in the eighth inning, but a fly out with runners on first and second ended the inning.
Sophomore Dustin Armstrong (Cincinnati, OH, Country Day) entered the game in the ninth inning for the Prairie Fire. He allowed a single by the lead-off hitter, but a double-play followed by a single and a ground out ended the game and made a winner out of Blanchard (1-0).
The four Knox pitchers used in the game did not surrender a run after the first inning.
Lakeland outhit the Fire 16-10. Weaver led the Knox offense with three hits and three runs batted in. Hoffman and White added two hits apiece.
The Prairie Fire goes for its third straight win on Wednesday against Central College. Knox and Central have already met this season, splitting a doubleheader on March 3 in Jacksonville, Illinois.
