By Timothy J Sheridan: Mayor Pro Tem, Lake Elsinore; Director of Broadcasting, Lake Elsinore Storm
Special to Menifee/Elsinore 24/7
The anticipation at Diamond Stadium prior to the Storm’s sixth game of the season on Thursday surrounded starting pitcher Bryan Balzer. The Yokosuka, Japan native had pitched exceptionally well in the Storm’s season opener in Ontario on April 2, giving up just one run and striking out 7 over four innings. The hope was that Balzer would repeat his performance and help the Storm get to .500 on the season.
He did – in a big way!
Balzer was amazing, pitching 5 innings while giving up just 2 hits on his way to his first victory of the season. But that was not the big story. Indeed, the story that will be remembered from the game was the Storm’s offense, which put three touchdowns (and three extra points) on the scoreboard en route to a 21-0 win over the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes.
It started in the second inning when the Storm sent 12 batters to the plate and scored 9 runs, punctuated by a two-run home run off the bat of right fielder Kale Fountain, whose shot to left field had a 109 mph exit velocity.
The Storm scored a single run in the third inning before besting its second-inning performance in the eighth inning with 11 more runs.
In the eighth, the Storm sent 15 batters to the plate. This time the big hit came from George Bilecki, who crushed a grand slam over the right field wall, i.e., the “Ad Monster,” as it’s known at Diamond Stadium.
All told, every Storm starter reached base in the game, with Fountain banging out 4 hits, center fielder Ryan Wideman driving in 4 runs on 2 hits, and second baseman Bradley Frye contributing with 3 hits, including 2 doubles.
The Storm is now 3-3 on the season, while the Quakes fall to 4-2.
The series continues at Diamond Stadium tonight at 6:45 pm. It’s fireworks night at Diamond Stadium. For tickets, visit tickets@stormbaseball.com or visit the Diamond Stadium Box Office prior to the game. The Box Office opens three hours before the game.
Bryan Balzer was outstanding on the mound. (Photo courtesy of Timothy J. Sheridan)
