09/05/2006

A banner year for Bums

TC sets first-year marks for record, home attendance

By JEFF PEEK

jpeek@record-eagle.com

Record-Eagle/Jan-Michael Stump
Traverse City Beach Bums players watch a video clip at Wuerfel Park prior to Monday's season finale.

TRAVERSE CITY — Season one is in the books — the record books.

The Traverse City Beach Bums completed their inaugural Frontier League baseball season in style on Monday night, erupting for six first-inning runs en route to a 8-4 victory over the Windy City ThunderBolts.

The win raised the Bums' record to 57-39, a new high water mark for first-year teams. The game was played in front of 5,643 fans at Wuerfel Park, raising the team's season total to 203,574 — another record for first-year organizations and only the second time a Frontier League team has surpassed 200,000 fans.

For good measure, Traverse City was named East Division organization of the year, and the Bums also won the league's sportsmanship award.

"Actually, it was pretty emotional out there tonight," said Bums infielder Nick Batkoski, who had two hits. "From the very first day, Ice (manager Jfeff Isom) set the tone and said we're going to be one of the best teams in the league. We didn't make the playoffs, but we certainly were one of the best teams.

"To break the record for the most wins by a first-year franchise and be able to play in front of these fans — breaking 200,000 — what more can you say?"

Traverse City was eliminated from playoff contention on Saturday night, making the Bums' final two games meaningless in the standings. But judging from the size of the crowds and the way the Bums' offense lit up the scoreboard, there was still plenty to play for.

After Windy City took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning — on Doug Schutt's single and Charlie Lisk's triple — the Bums pounded Windy City starter Nick Renault for six runs on four hits and sent him to the showers before he could complete the bottom half of the frame.

Renault loaded the bases by walking leadoff batter Justin Holmes, hitting Justin Meagher with a pitch and walking Batkoski. Brad Vericker followed with a two-run single to right, then Mike Reese delivered another run with an infield single to make it 3-1.

Nathan Gravley reached on a fielder's choice, Al Roach struck out, Clay Blevins plated Vericker with a single and Jaziel Mendoza ended Renault's night with a two-run single to make it 6-1.

Windy City fought back with single runs in the third, fifth and seventh innings, but TC out the game away with two runs in the seventh to make a winner of Jason Furrow (4-2).

"This game was a lot like our season," Isom said. "We won a lot early, played .500 ball through the middle and won some late. That's been the personality of this team — score early and let the pitching staff do the rest."

The Bums' 57th victory broke the first-year record set by Washington in 2002, when the Wild Things won 56 games in an 84-game schedule. Isom knew that team well — he managed it.

"I knew coming into this season that we would be good, and I had heard from multiple people that Traverse City was going to draw well. I just didn't know how well we would do," Isom said. "To draw 200,000, I didn't expect that.

"Give credit to the the Wuerfels (team owners John and Leslye). Give credit to the team. Give credit to the fans."

In addition to the team awards, the Bums' Tony Casoli was named Pitcher of the Year after leading the Frontier League in wins (13-3) and shutouts (4), placing fourth in ERA (2.44) and setting a league record with 35 consecutive scoreless innings.