Bums cough up early lead

FROM STAFF REPORTS

June 19, 2009 07:10 am

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WASHINGTON, Pa. -- Up 7-0 heading into the bottom of the third, it appeared the Traverse City Beach Bums were on their way to a third consecutive road win Thursday night.

It didn't happen.

Washington (9-16) tied the game in the fourth, then took the lead for good with four runs in the sixth en route to a wild 16-8 Frontier League win over the Beach Bums (13-12).

Designated hitter Jacob Dempsey highlighted the four-run uprising with a three-run homer. It was his eighth of the season.

The Beach Bums matched a season-high with 14 hits, including five extra base hits. Ten of those hits came in the first three innings. Mike Victor led Traverse City with three hits. Corey Whiting, Brian Lapin, Kyle Maunus and Brad Miller added two hits apiece. Miller belted a solo homer in the eighth. Epping, Maunus, Miller and Robby Alcombrack all drove in two runs. Traverse City scored four runs in the second and three in the third to build its early lead.

Phil Laurent and Kris Rochelle led the Wild Things' 15-hit attack with three hits. Dempsey, Rochelle and Grant Psomas drove in three runs apiece.

Sean Heimpel pitched five innings of relief for the win. Kyle Touchatt, who came on in relief of Shawn Joy, suffered the loss.

Righthander Brett Bostelman (5-0, 0.88), who leads the league in wins and earned run average, takes the hill for the Beach Bums tonight in the second game of the three-game set. He'll be opposed by Zach Groh (0-1, 3.65).

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