The Chicago Hounds play a split doubleheader today at Winnemac: 12:15 pm v. the Browns and 3:00 pm v. the Aviators. The Hounds started the weekend off well by defeating the Trojans 17-0 at Winnemac yesterday. It was not a Garcia-family slaughter this time, as the Hounds scored 9 runs in the top of the 7th inning to put the game away.
Alec Reinke (#14, P) was the star of the day, pitching a masterful complete game for the win, while striking out 12 Trojans. 12 strikeouts out of 21 total outs! Reinke also did significant damage with the Charlie’s collective bat, as he reached safely 4 times on 3 singles and an error.

Scorekeeper Nick Ingram (#36) did not record runs batted in on the day, but based on the book it appears Reinke probably had 2 RsBI–he also had 2 stolen bases, and a run scored. All told, a banner day. Reinke only gave up 3 hits on the day, surrendering as many as he had on his own. This also was his second complete game win in a row.
The game was not a blowout in the beginning, in fact the score was only 2-0 through the first 4 innings. But soon after Brian Hearns and family showed up (they came to the game from Texas to cheer on the Hounds), the Hounds bats responded as they scored 3 in the 5th, 3 in the 6th, and then batted around Charlie-style +4 scoring the 9 in the 7th.

The Hounds only had 9 players on the day, but all nine batsmen scored at least once. Alex Mora (#16) was unable to make the game as he got called into work at the firehouse, so Matthew Steffens (#5, SS/3B) led off lineup like the old days, and as Patrick Stacy would say, “much to the detriment of the team.” Steffens tripled, scored twice, and had 2 RsBI. Tony Correa (#13, C) reached safely and scored in the first, but it is not clear how he got on base (Ingram provided great detail on who was Correa’s courtesy runner, but how Correa reached bases was not deemed important by the first-time scorekeeper (or as he prefers, bookkeeper).

Matt Burch (#6, 1B) had two singles and a reach by error (probably those numbers should be flipped) and scored. Kurt Kerrigan (#12, LF) led all Hounds scorers by crossing the plate 4 times on the day, after reaching on an error, fielder’s choice, and two singles. Arron Kruse (#11, 3B/SS) was spectacular on the field and also was 5 for 5 at the plate, with 2 doubles, 3 singles, 3 runs scored, and 4 RsBI. Lehman who? Nick Schmidt returned to form with 2 doubles and 2 singles, 3 runs, and 4 RsBI. TJ Rinaldi (#1, CF) finally crushed a ball for an exhaustion-inducing triple, he also walked, singled, scored, and had 2 RsBI. Phil Zelenka (#24, 2B) singled twice and scored a run.

Lots of offense, great pitching, and only 1 error on the defense led to a fantastic game for the Hounds. They look to continue their winning ways today against the two much tougher opponents. We hope to see you and Phil’s dad there and at K’s Dugout after!