On a very toasty 90+ degree Father’s Day at Taft High School, the Chicago Hounds defeated the Red Sox 12-7 to improve to 11-5 on the year. Proud new papas Kyle Hanson (#2, EH) and Kurt Kerrigan (#12, DH/P) celebrated the day with a win, and the Hounds got to meet Kurt’s daughter who is only a little over 2 weeks old. The Hounds defeated the Red Sox in all 3 contests this season, sweeping the season series. The Red Sox are a much better team than year’s past, they are now 5-8-1 on the year (.500 other than playing the Hounds).
The Hounds pounded out the hits today, and not just Taylor Swift’s Shake It Off (although they did use it as inspiration between innings), scoring 2 in the 3rd, 1 in the 4th, 2 in the 5th, and then exploding for 5 in the 6th. Extra bases were a plenty, as Kerrigan had a solo home run over the left fielder’s head, Nolan Bielinski (#4, C) cleared the bases with a grand slam home run, Brian Hearns (#30, 1B) crushed an RBI triple over the right fielder’s head, and Matthew Steffens (#5, SS) doubled to the gap, driving in 2 runs.
Matt Burch (#6, P) threw 4 innings, giving up 6 runs, only 4 were earned–Taft was playing fast and difficult today. Burch struck out 4 and got the Hounds to the bullpen in fine shape. Mike Marra (#15, LF/P/RF) threw a scoreless 5th inning for a poached win, and Kerrigan gave up 1 run in 2 innings to close out the game, giving up no runs in the 7th after Enter Sandman was played as he made his way to the mound.
Brent Schoenbach (#7, 3B) continued his weekend hit parade with 2 singles, a run, and an RBI, TJ Rinaldi (#1, CF) had an RBI single, Max Kiefer had 2 singles and scored a run, Stephen Correa Jr (#20, 2B) walked and scored, Tony Correa (Sr?, Jr?, his dad is named Tony, but not a doctor, and not a Jr, 2B) only saw one pitch and it hit him in the arm. Hanson singled and scored. Keith Richardson (#17, LF) singled, drove in a run, and scored. Hearns also had another single, scored twice, Steffens singled and scored twice, Marra singled, and Bielinski singled and scored twice.
Offensive explosion. 16 hits on the day.
The Hounds have always had great defense and pitching, but this year they also have the hitting. Thus, the 11-5 record just after the halfway point in the season.
The Hounds have 4 games in a 5 day span coming up–hope to see you there:
Vikings – Wed 6/22 – 5:50 pm – Taft HS Aviators – Fri 6/24 – 5:50 pm – Winnemac Rangers – Sat 6/25 – 9:30 am – Winnemac Electrons – Sun 6/26 – 12:15 pm – Winnemac