Game #7

The Hammond Seminoles (20-18-1) finished their Georgia trip on a 3 game winning streak after defeating the Nelson Baseball School (Georgia) 3-0. Jimmy Skiff (Andrean; win, 5 innings, 4 strikeouts, 2 hits), Jonathan Azar (Munster; 1 inning, 1 strikeout), and Brandon Roeske (Chesterton; save) combined on the 3 hit shutout. Hammond scored twice in the 4th inning. Corey Rusboldt (Chesterton) singled up the middle with 1 out and then stole second base. Austin Vander Zanden (Chesterton) followed that up with a walk and then Brandon Roeske (Chesterton) hit an RBI single with 2 strikes. Skiff added a walk after Vander Zanden was caught stealing third and Azar singled. With the bases loaded, Frank Podkul (Andrean) worked his at-bat into an RBI base on balls. Then, with 2 outs, chaos ensued. Jaylen Yarbrough (Bishop Noll), who was pinch running, stole home but was thrown out after the opposing pitcher balked and the only two guys at the complex who didn’t see it were the two gentleman umpiring. Another controversial play in the 6th led to an ejection. “How nobody was looking at the pitcher during his delivery on that balk is beyond me! In my 20 years with Hammond I’m not sure I’ve seen a worse no call.” said Chiefs head man Dave Sutkowski. The Seminoles tacked on a run for good measure in the 7th after pinch runner Larry Crisler (Bishop Noll) stole second and third base setting up Podkul for an RBI single. Next up for Hammond is the double elimination AABC tournament in Cincinnati, Ohio beginning on Monday. 

Game #6

Following Matt Dvorscak’s (Whiting) no-hitter on Monday, Austin Vander Zanden (Chesterton) knew he had to keep the ball rolling. Everyone was aware that “V.Z.” pitched a solid game but it was Austin who pointed out “I just threw a one-hitter!” after the final out was recorded against the 16U Mizuno Stars (Minnesota). Vander Zanden threw 7 innings, struck out 7, and gave up one earned run. When asked further about his performance, Vander Zanden offered, “I was ‘almost‘ unhittable today.” Hammond (19-18-1) scored all of their runs with 2 outs in the third inning. After an Angel Figueroa (Bishop Noll) single and a Jaylen Yarbrough (Bishop Noll, 2 hits) hit by pitch, it was one of Vander Zanden’s high school teammates who came up with the big hit. Corey Rusboldt’s (Chesterton) 2-RBI triple to left field was all Hammond would need and Larry Crisler (Bishop Noll) drove him in the following at-bat for some insurance. Mizuno scored their lone run in the 3rd inning and the Seminoles improved to 2-4 in pool play after the 3-1 victory.

Game #5

The second game of the doubleheader was all Matt Dvorscak (Whiting) and the Hammond Seminoles (18-18-1) versus the ABA Braves (Georgia). Dvorscak threw a complete game no-hitter. He struck out 6 and gave up 1 unearned run (5 inning slaughter rule). He was also 1 for 1 with a walk and an RBI to help his own cause. Jaylen Yarbrough (Bishop Noll) led off the bottom half of the 1st with a hit by pitch before stealing second. Corey Rusboldt (Chesterton) followed it up with a single and Larry Crisler (Bishop Noll) laced a single into center to make it a 1-0 game. With first and second and nobody out, David Hladek (Munster) bunted the runners over, Alex Vode (Andrean) walked, Brandon Garcia (Griffith) singled in a run, Dvorscak walked with the bases loaded, and Frank Podkul (Andean) drove in a run with a sacrifice fly to make it 4-0 Hammond. The Noles scored again in the 2nd after a leadoff single from Rob Long (Andrean), a stolen base by Kyle Buikema (Griffith), and a 2-out RBI single by Crisler. The 4th inning saw Hammond score 4 runs again with the big hit being a 2-run double off the bat of Rusboldt. For the game, Yarbrough scored twice, Rusboldt had 2 hits, 2 runs, and 2 RBI, Crisler had 2 hits and 2 RBI, and Kyle Buikema scored twice. Final score: Hammond 9, Braves 1.

Game #4

The Seminoles (17-18-1) got on the board first against West End 16U (South Carolina; 4-1 in pool play). Jaylen Yarbrough (Bishop Noll) led off the game with a single and then stole second. Brandon Garcia (Griffith), hitting second, drove him home on a double to right center. Garcia later scored on a wild pitch. West End answered with a run in the bottom half of the first. The Noles made it 3-1 in the second inning after Frank Podkul (Andrean) scored on an error following his 2-out double. West End responded with another run. Hammond scored yet again in the 3rd inning after Larry Crisler’s (Bishop Noll) leadoff single, a stolen base by Corey Rusboldt (Chesterton [courtesy runner]), and two wild pitches. But that would be the end of the scoring for the Seminoles. West End scored two more runs in the 3rd to make it 4-4 and scored the go ahead run in the 5th inning. Crisler got the start on the mound and only lasted two inning before giving way to Podkul. Podkul threw the last 4 innings and only allowed 1 run.

Game #3

The Seminoles (17-17-1) lost to the San Diego Show to fall to 0-3. San Diego scored first in the 3rd inning before Brandon Roeske (Chesterton) stranded the bases loaded. The Seminoles answered in the top half of the 4th after Corey Rusboldt (Chesterton) singled and advanced on an error. David Hladek (Munster) sacrificed both runners over setting up Alex Vode (Andrean) for the sacrifice fly to center field to tie the game at 1-1. San Diego scored another run in the bottom of the 4th to regain a one run lead. The game was still 2-1 going into the bottom half of the 6th. Roeske retired the leadoff hitter on a strikeout but was then removed from the game after walking the next batter on 5 pitches. After Roeske’s departure, San Diego went single, fielder’s choice, single, walk, walk, walk, walk, error, then groundout to take an 8-1 lead. Hammond tried to battle their way back after Jonathan Azar (Munster) had a 1-out, pinch-hit single. Vode reached on an error and Austin Vander Zanden (Chesterton) laced an RBI single to center. But the rally was short-lived and what looked like a potential upset after 5 1/2 innings turned into an 8-2 loss and an 0-3 pool play record for Hammond.

Game #2

The Hammond Seminoles (17-16-1) fell to 0-2 in pool after losing 4-0 to the Dallas Mets. After retiring the first two batters of the game, Jonathan Azar (Munster) walked the next two hitters and the Noles dropped a pop up to the catcher which led to a 2 out, 3-run double. Azar was unscored upon for the next 5 innings. Offensively, Hammond had 1 hit each from David Hladek (Munster), Frank Podkul (Andrean), and Matt Dvorscak (Whiting).

Game #1

The Hammond Seminoles (17-15-1) dropped their first game in Georgia to the Orlando Baseball Academy 3-2. Jimmy Skiff (Andrean) got a no decision after allowing 2 runs in 3 1/3. Matt Dvorscak (Whiting) threw 2 scoreless innings of relief. Larry Crisler (Bishop Noll) took the loss after allowing a run in the top of the 7th. Crisler and Jaylen Yarbrough (Bishop Noll) each scored. Alex Vode (Andrean) tied the game in the bottom of 6 with a 2 out single.