By Timothy J Sheridan: Mayor Pro Tem, Lake Elsinore; Director of Broadcasting, Lake Elsinore Storm
Special to Elsinore/Menifee 24/7
The Lake Elsinore Storm continued its winning ways in Ontario with a come-from-behind 10-7 win over the Tower Buzzers at ONT Field on Friday. It was the Storm’s third straight win, and its 9th in 10 games.
With the win, the Storm improved to 15-10 on the season and sits alone in first place atop the California League’s South Division.
It started slowly for the Storm as they fell behind 4-1 after 3 innings of play. In the 6th, the Storm scored twice, highlighted by left fielder Justin DeCriscio’s second double of the game — he would finish with three doubles — and a run-scoring single from first baseman Victor Duarte, cutting the Buzzers’ lead to 4-3.
The Storm broke it open in the 7th inning with 5 runs. With 1 out, third baseman Kerrington Cross walked. He advanced to second on a wild pitch. Right fielder Qrey Lott and center fielder Ryan Wideman were both hit by pitches, loading the bases. DeCriscio then hit a sacrifice fly, scoring Cross, to tie the game at 4.
After Lott and Wideman pulled off a double steal (Wideman’s 18th stolen base on the year), both moved up a base on a balk. That made it 5-4, Lake Elsinore.
After catcher Truitt Madonna walked, Duarte doubled home Wideman and sending Madonna to 3rd. After another balk, Madonna scored and Duarte went to 3rd base. Designated hitter Luke Cantwell then singled home Duarte, giving Lake Elsinore an 8-4 lead after 6 1/2 innings of play.
The Buzzers would score in the 8th on a triple from shortstop Emil Morales, who had homered in the 1st inning as well.
In the 9th inning, the Storm scored two more times on 3 hits and a walk. The Buzzers countered with 2 runs of their own, but it was not enough as the Storm took a 3-1 lead in the 6-game series.
Storm pitching struck out 15 Buzzers batters in the game. Javier Chacon got his 4th win against no losses and Will Kroger earned his 1st save despite giving up 2 earned runs in the 9th inning.
Game 5 of the series will be played tonight at 6:05 p.m. at ONT Field.
The Storm’s next game at Diamond Stadium is scheduled for May 12 at 11:05 a.m. For tickets for all Storm games, visit tickets@stormbaseball.com or visit the Diamond Stadium Box Office.
