By Timothy J Sheridan: Mayor Pro Tem, Lake Elsinore; Director of Broadcasting, Lake Elsinore Storm
Special to Elsinore/Menifee 24/7
he Lake Elsinore Storm made it 4 wins in a row and 10 of 11 after beating the Ontario Tower Buzzers 4-2 at ONT Field on Saturday night.
Although the Storm had scored 19 runs and banged out 21 hits the previous 2 games, it only needed 3 hits and 4 runs to win its 16th game in 26 starts so far this season.
The Storm took a 1-0 lead in the 3rd inning when center fielder Ryan Wideman tripled home right fielder George Bilecki. Bilecki had walked earlier in the inning.
In the 6th inning, Lake Elsinore doubled its lead to 2-0. Third baseman Bradley Frye led off the inning with a walk. He then stole 2nd base and advanced to 3rd on a fly to the outfield. Catcher Victor Duarte then drove home Frye with a sacrifice fly.
The Buzzers tied it in the bottom of the 6th on a couple of walks, a single and a groundout.
However, in the 8th, the Storm scored two more runs. Designated hitter Truitt Madonna led off with a walk. That brought up second baseman Justin DeCriscio, who bunted for a base hit. Both runners moved up a base on DeCriscio’s bunt when Buzzers third baseman Chase Harlan committed a throwing error.
That brought up the clutch hitting veteran Duarte ,who doubled home Madonna and DeCriscio, putting the Storm up 4-2.
Duarte, who has been hot at the plate recently and hitting .347 on the year, had 3 RBIs in the game. He has 17 runs driven in this season.
Storm pitching was excellent in the ballgame. Starter Tyler Schmitt pitched 5 shutout innings, striking out six. Carson Swilling pitched the 8th and 9th innings, walking just 1 batter. He earned his first save of the season. Middle reliever Brandon Langley won the game. e is now 2-1 on the season.
The Storm is now in first place in the California League’s South Division, 1 game better than Rancho Cucamonga.
The final game of the 6-game series between the Storm and the Tower Buzzers will be played today at 1:05 p.m /at ONT Field in Ontario.
The Storm will next be home at Diamond Stadium on May 12 at 11:05 am.
For tickets for all Storm games, visit tickets@stormbaseball.com or visit the Diamond Stadium Box Office.
