The 2016 PL Jays season starts towards conclusion as the regular season is nearly ½ in the books with the Jays struggling to find ways to win with injuries & absences impacting the lineup. The Jays have dropped 2 in section play this week at Chaska 7/10 and a rainout makeup hosting Chanhassen 7/12.
The Jays travelled to Chaska Athletic Park on Coopers Watermelon Night Sunday 7/10 to square with the Cubs for the 1st time in ’16 and got a promising early start with leadoff double by CF Jonsey Buesher followed by Shortstop Christopher Kelly reaching on an error at short. The next 3 Jays hitters flew out stranding 2. The Jays plated their 1st run on a 1 out single by Buescher and a 2 out RBI double to leftcenter by 3rd baseman Sam Kortes. The Jays threatened in the 4th on a leadoff groundrule double by catcher Tommy Keating followed by a single by DH Scott Geisler off of legendary Cubs pitcher Ryan Seifert. Keating lost footing at 3rd and was picked off while 1B Tiny Nelson struck out and RF TJ Larson flew out to end the inning.
The Cubs were plating runs in innings 2-6 off of starter Lawson Zenner and reliever Tony Eicher who were unable to stop the Cubs and had a couple errors in the field behind them. Pat Galvin was not able to throw and Tiny Nelson allowed 2 hits but no runs pitching the 6th frame.
The Jays rallied on Seifert in the 5th on consecutive hits by SS Corey Goodwin, Buescher and Kelly before a bases loaded RBI walk drawn by 3B Sam Kortes. Following a strikeout and Keating reaching on error Geisler knocked in an RBI on a single before a double play ended the Jays inning with 3 stranded. The Jays were able to muster little beyond that as Chaska extended the lead. Buescher 4-5, 2 runs, Geisler 3-4 and Kelly 2-4 run led the 11 hit attack while Zenner got the loss in the start.
The Jays hosted Chanhassen on 7/12 and spotted the margin in the 1st on a leadoff Redbird walk to Nick Smith, a walk to Brandon Arnold followed by a sacrifice by Shawn Riesgraf and an RBI sac fly to center by John Leighton before Jays pitcher Austin Truso could record the 3rd out and settle in tossing the next 4 scoreless innings for the Jays. The Jays offense could only muster 1 hit and 2 walks while the visiting Redbirds plated 3 in the 6th 7 in the 7th on reliever Jason Peter enroute to 11-0 win.
The Jays slip to 0-5 in 12 game Section 3B with 2 Section games Friday 7/15 730P at Chanhassen, Sat 7/16 2PM VS PL Mudcats (7 inning exhibition) and Sunday 7/17 6PM hosting the Shakopee Indians.
SCHEDULE UPDATES:
Wed 7/20 730PM: PL Jays at Victoria (from Fri 7/1, PPD by them) Victoria Poppitz Field at Lions Park
Sat 7/23 600PM: PL Jays HOST Victoria (rain PPD 7/5) *Thomas Ryan Park [Limited Concessions, BYOB]
*PL Post 447 Wizards hosting Sub State-District 3 American Legion Tournament at Veterans Field.