05/25/2006

Record-Eagle/Jan-Michael Stump
The Traverse City Beach Bums line up for pregame ceremonies before the start of their inaugural game against the Kalamazoo Kings Wednesday at Wuerfel Park. For more photos from the game, see our Traverse City Beach Bums opening day photo gallery.

Beach Bummer

Kings post 10-2 win to open year

by jeff peek

jpeek@record-eagle.com

Record-Eagle/Jan-Michael Stump
Kalamazoo Kings’ Ian Church slides back into first, avoiding a tag by Traverse City Beach Bums first baseman Nathan Gravely Wednesday at Wuerfel Park. For more photos from the game, see our Traverse City Beach Bums opening day photo gallery.

TRAVERSE CITY — What a bummer — on the scoreboard, anyway.

Opening night for the Traverse City Beach Bums was a success everywhere but on the diamond Wednesday night, when the new independent Frontier League baseball team lost a 10-2 decision to the Kalamazoo Kings in front of an enthusiastic sellout crowd at Wuerfel Park, which seats 4,600.

The night started with accolades and ended with fireworks, but in between it was the defending league champion Kings who made the most noise.

"I guess we're not going to go undefeated this season," joked Beach Bums manager Jeff Isom. "They had two-out hits, they put the ball in to play, they took advantage of mistakes — not just in the field but our pitching mistakes (like) leaving the ball up.

"We wanted to put on a show for the fans, but we got thrown right into the mix (against the defending league champions). It's good to get one out of the way. We were pressing a little bit. Now we can relax and go out and have fun."

While the Beach Bums missed an opportunity to get started on the right foot when they squandered two singles and a walk in the first inning, Kalamazoo made the most of its chances, scoring 10 runs on 13 hits. Ray Gill led the way with a two-run double in the third inning and two-run single in the seventh. Joseph Ramos tripled, singled and batted in three runs; Casey W. Baker Ian Church added two hits each; and Adam Leavitt slugged the first home run in Wuerfel Park history, a two-run shot over the 320-foot mark in left off Paul Mezetta in the eighth.

Traverse City designated hitter Kevin Gergel said nerves certainly played a role in the Bums' performance.

"You get jitters," he said. "I was definitely nervous. We pressed a little bit as a team. We wanted to get a win for the Wuerfels (owners John and Leslye) so bad because they've been so good to us."

After Traverse City needed four outs to retire the Kings in the first inning — the Bums used a double play to erase a strikeout victim who reached on a wild pitch — the sellout crowd got worked up for a rally in the bottom half. Mike Reese led off with the first hit in team history, a blooper to right on a 0-1 pitch, then beat the throw to second on a steal attempt. But he over-slid the bag and was tagged out.

After a fly out, Kevin White singled, Gergel walked and both moved up on a wild pitch.

But Kalamazoo starter Josh Martin worked out of trouble by striking out Nick Batkoski.

"We had an opportunity to set the tone of the game," Isom said. "We didn't take advantage ..." Said Gergel: "If we could have scored a run there it could have been an entirely different game. But it wasn't meant to be."

The Kings broke a scoreless tie with three runs in the third. They followed by scoring twice in the third, seventh and eighth innings before tacking on their final run in the ninth. Traverse City committed three errors, two of which led to unearned runs.

"We have to play good fundamental baseball," Isom said.

Robbie McClellan took the loss, allowing five runs (four earned) on six hits in five innings, He struck out five. Four pitchers followed — Kevin Joslyn, Jon Barchus, Mesetta and Jason Furrow. Only Joslyn and Furrow did not allow a run.

Traverse City scored its first run in the sixth inning. Steve Young was hit by a pitch and eventually scored on Gergel's double into the right-center field gap.

The Beach Bums added a run in the bottom of the ninth. Batkoski singled, Doug Garcia reached on an error and Nathan Gravely walked to load the bases with no outs. Clay Blevins knocked Batkoski in on a fielder's choice.

Martin earned the win, allowing only one run and five hits in six innings.

Other than the score, opening night was a success for the entire Beach Bums organization — and the Traverse City community.

"It was amazing," Gergel said. "I got goose bumps probably five times before the game even started.

"The fans here are amazing. I'm disappointed we couldn't get them a win. It's a treat to play here. It's a privilege." Isom agreed.

"(The fans) were into the game, no question," he said. "They applauded good plays by Kalamazoo, and when we made a mistake you could hear a groan.

"We're going to be able to use them."

Frontier League commissioner Bill Lee was impressed with the entire night.

"It was a wonderful show," he said, "and it's a wonderful facility." Even Kalamazoo's Martin was wide-eyed.

"This park's amazing," he said. "It's awesome. It's great to play in front of that many fans. Once the game starts you don't really see the fans, but you definitely feel the energy in the park."

NOTES: Bums pitcher Tony Casoli won't get his first start until the team's fourth game of the season on Saturday at Washington, so he felt like a fan on Wednesday night. "I don't mind (not starting)," Casoli said before the game. "I get to sit back and take it all in. This is fun." ... Beach Bums co-owner John Wuerfel threw out the ceremonial first pitch before the game. "I think they moved the mound back," he said. "I don't remember it being this far away from the plate." Wuerfel's pitch was low and outside and skipped past his son Jason, who was doing the catching. Co-owner Leslye Wuerfel was supposed to throw a pitch of her own, but she handed the ball to her husband and gave him a chance to redeem himself. He did, delivering a "high" strike.