Shorthanded Cubs Lose to Marinette 4-2 in Tourney

MARINETTE, Wis.--- The Cubs were shorthanded in their opening game of the Marinette Firecracker Tournament and tried their best but fell shorthanded 4-2 against Marinette at Pederson Ball Park. The Cubs were without four of their best players and had to plug in some players who don’t see regular playing time.

First basemen Bailey Lamb, catcher Sean Bissell, outfielder Jack Valentine, and middle infielder Hunter LaMarch were all not present due to various reasons.

“"You tell the kids early in the year if you have to take vacations take them so other kids get a chance to play," Cubs Manager Tom Ohman said. "Would I love to have a full squad out here? Of course, but it’s summer and they have to do things (in their lives)."
 

Marinette struck first in the top of the second inning against Cubs starter Devin Olsen. Marinette's Aaron Benson singled to start off the inning, and scored on an Alex Stinola single. 

The home team didn’t stop there, as they scored another run in the top of the third to make it 2-0.

St. Norbert College shortstop Derek Klegin walked to lead off, got bunted to second, and scored on an errant throw to first base by the catcher Nick Vandermissen.

That made it a 3-0 game. By the way, it was Vandermissen's first time catching a game since he was an 11-year-old Little Leaguer. But the shorthanded Cubs needed him.

“The errors were made by kids who hadn’t played that position before, you can’t even get mad about that,” Ohman said. 

Andrew Sedlar replaced Devin Olsen and Marinette added another run in the top of the fourth inning when the second basemen Austin Wright doubled to right center to lead off and scored on a Klegin single. 

The only two Cubs run of the day came in the bottom of the fourth when the third basemen Lewis Ostrander singled to left field and scored on a wild pitch by Benson. Devin Olsen singled home Tyler Skufca to inch the Cubs closer but Sedlar grounded out to first base to end the threat. 

Marinette added another insurance run in the top of the seventh as Kiefer Powers hit a two out single and advanced to second on a wild pitch by Skufca who replaced Sedlar on the mound.

Powers then scored from second on an RBI single by Jake Sawinsky.

The Cubs had chances in the bottom of the sixth and seventh innings but a 15 year old Braden Olsen (who was making his first Cubs start at second base because of the shorthanded roster) struck out with the bases loaded to end the sixth.

In the seventh the Cubs had Skufca on first with two outs and Vandermissen ripped one in the gap in left-center but center fielder Nate Kallestad sprinted all the way to his right and made a full out diving catch to rob Nick of an RBI double to end the game.

“Good airlift (on the catch by Kallestad) , good athlete,” Ohman said. 

Devin Olsen takes the loss on the mound for the Cubs going three innings, allowing three hits, and walking three. The winning pitcher for Marinette is Benson who went five and two thirds, only allowing two runs on three hits, and working around eight walks. Klegin gets the save, pitching an inning and a third, with three strikeouts. 

In earlier action from the first day of this eight-team tournament,  the Marquette Blues defeated the Green Bay Blue Jays 3-0; Manitowoc beat Menominee 12-0; and Watertown beat Ishpeming 8-0.

You can catch the Cubs broadcasts on Saturday as they play Green Bay at noon and Watertown at 5:30. The games are on WCHT-AM (600), and at www.rrnsports.com.

Click the above thumbnails in the ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS section for photos and videos from Friday’s game. Story by Trent Schwalbach.