Clubbers Play To Execution In Big Time 9 Inning Win Over Schaumburg Seminoles ~ 4-2

Frank Gowder Impressive in Win and Clubbers Clear the Bases on Two Stellar Double Plays!

Chicago, IL. Just another game? Yeah Right! On Sunday night, September 3 2005, the Clubbers faced off against the nationally ranked Schaumburg Seminoles in a game hyped as a Travel Ball Select event which created some interest. Whether anyone from Travel Ball Select was actually at the University of Illinois is unknown, but Russ Gangler who loves to hype his games did his best to promote the game between the Clubbers and Seminoles. There was plenty of entertainment to those who were there. The Clubbers prevailed in a Big Time game with Frank Gowder pitching 6 Innings to get the Win. Uli Ortiz got the Save finishing the game and allowing no runs to score.

Baseball is played in Illinois from April 1 to the end of October and the game versus the Seminoles was the Clubbers 72nd Game of the year. While some may say that this was not the same Seminoles team of old with several disgruntled players leaving the team for undetermined reasons the new players were wearing the same old Seminole blue uniforms. No matter because Russ Gangler always assembles a well coached and talented group of players and that the Seminoles come to play regardless of the season!

Both teams played extremely well throughout the 9 Inning contest which was played under the lights at the beautiful University of Illinois - North Field. The evening was perfect with the Chicago skyline as the backdrop for the fourth meeting of the two teams during 2005 and the Clubbers finally got a win against their nationally known Illinois rival. During each of the previous 2004 and 2003 seasons, the Clubbers have been able to get at least one of the very few Wins against the always talented Seminoles teams. The Seminole teams rarely lose, but when they do, the Win requires an all out effort and a near perfectly played team game by the opposition.

The Seminoles clearly came to play, arriving well before game time for batting practice with a roster that was loaded with several 'top players' including three Concealed Chargers (Matt Conway and John and Jimmy Martinez) who flew into Chicago for the TBS highlighted match up game. The Seminoles opened the game pitching Brandon DuPlessis, followed by Matt Conway and then Jack Havey. All three pitchers are impressive, and would be the envy of any teams roster, recording 14- K’s and allowed only one Walk over the 9 Innings played.

Frank Gowder who started for the Clubbers and pitched 6 Innings; recording 6–K’s and getting solid defensive support, which included two crisp double plays (6-4-3 and 9-3-4) enabling the Clubbers to hold the Seminoles to just 2 runs on 5 hits over the first 6 innings of play. After 7 Innings of play the Clubbers held the lead, 4-2.

Uli Ortiz got the save, pitching the final 3 Innings and allowing no runs. Outstanding play by the Clubbers outfield (Ryan Williams and Chris DeLara) and right fielder, Angelo Burrage who recorded 4 of the outs and contributed to one of the double plays (9-3-4) on a strong throw to Jason Ormond, was key to holding the Seminoles to 10 hits for the game. Jon Dorsey was outstanding behind the plate putting up an absolute wall preventing anything from getting behind him. The Clubber infield was rock solid with Jon Dorsey at Catcher, Jason Ormond at 1st Base, Jacob Koehne at Second and Shortstop, Uli Ortiz at Short and Dai Bowden playing both Third and Second Base providing the defensive support needed.

Rarely on the losing side, Russ Gangler was gracious after the game complimented the outstanding play of catcher Jon Dorsey saying, "he was the difference maker behind the plate stopping plenty of balls from going to the deep backstop," which is more than 25 feet behind home plate. The next day Gangler showed his true colors saying he did not recognize the game as anything more than practice and then had the audacity to request that the 9 Inning Game not be posted on the Internet because he said, "his team needed the practice. "Sorry Russ, ~ Don't think so!'

YEAH RIGHT! ~ Whether you look at the box score after 7 Innings or 9 Innings the Clubbers got the Win and we will take it!

A big time thank you to Mr. Ted Kurga and Mr. Joe Dunnigan for running the Clubber team over the Labor Day weekend.

The final box score: Clubbers 4 Runs on 6 Hits; committing 2 Errors and the Seminoles 2 Runs on 11 Hits; committing 4 Errors.

The Clubbers look forward to seeing the Seminoles again in the upcoming Fall Classic Tournament hosted by the Clubbers at the University of Illinois on September 16-18, 2005. Also participating in this tourrnament are the Diamond Dreams, the Lake Zurich Cougars and the DuPage Diamondbacks.