SOUTH BEND - GAME RECAP

The Fort Wayne Wizards were in town to continue their intrastate rivalry with the Silver Hawks. Fort Wayne was in first place while South Bend was in last, and this game showed why.

Padres' prospect David Pauley started for Fort Wayne against Ryan Coffin. Both pitchers were perfect in the first, but in the 2nd, the South Bend defense disappeared and Fort Wayne capitalized. After Paul McAnulty doubled to lead off, Doc Brooks singled with one out to score the first run. Silver Hawk center fielder Richie Barrett tried to throw home, but it bounced over the catcher and Brooks advanced to second on the error. Luis Cruz grounded out and Brooks advanced to third, and he scored when John DiBetta reached on an error by Kervin Jacobo. The 3rd inning saw more of the same, as L.J. Bierbaum reached on an error with 2 out. McAnulty doubled and left-fielder Jarred Ball bobbled it, allowing Bierbaum to score. It was 3-0 Fort Wayne and South Bend had committed 4 miscues after only 3 innings.

Pauley throws

In the 5th, Fort Wayne added 2 runs on a Tranum double. In the 6th, DiBetta reached on an error, but it was later scored a hit as the official scorer felt obvious pity for the poor Silver Hawks. The score remained 5-0 until the bottom of the 9th, when South Bend plated 2 on Ball's single, but Edwin Morel managed to get Burney Hutchison to strike out to end the game.

Kennard Jones watches one go by

This was not a good game - it was never really close and the poor defense and lack of clutch hitting displayed by South Bend was very frustrating, made more so by the 3 annoying mascots who paraded above the dugouts blocking my view on occasion.