Normal Drop Bees, 10-9 in Extras

In what has to be one of the ugliest wins in CornBelter history, Normal prevailed over Burlington 10-9 in 12 innings Monday night, in spite of committing seven errors and hitting five Bees batters.

The Bees handed Normal three runs in the second inning on five walks and a wild pitch from Burlington starter Adrian Nery, coupled with a passed ball by catcher Nolan Elmore. 

The Bees generosity continued in the top of the sixth.  Jeron Conner came on in relief.  He walked Cy Kerber, who was sacrificed to second by Normal left fielder Dominic DiLello.  On the play, Elmore threw wildly to first allowing Kerber to third and DiLello to second.  Will Henson drove them home with a double.

After a fly out, Henson went to third on another Bees wild pitch. Jackson Chatterton walked to make it first and third.  The speedy shortstop promptly stole second.  He had three on the night.  With two out Conner threw yet another wild pitch.  Henson scored from third, and when Elmore slow played the ball off the backstop Chatterton came all the way around from second.  That made it 7-1.  Normal looked to be in control.

Burlington second baseman Tucker Cole, who was on base after being hit by a pitch to start the seventh, stole second base.  With one out Jaden Hackbarth singled to center to make it first and third.  Hackbarth was on base six times in the game.  He had three hits, two walks and was hit by a pitch.

Bees RBI leader Kevin Santiago followed with a blast over the right field wall, and just like that it was 7-4.

In the bottom of the eighth it was Normal's turn to be giving.  Burlington scored five runs on just one hit.  Normal committed two errors.

Clayton Johnson came in to throw for the CornBelters.  He walked Weston Fulk.  Normal wasted no time and brought in Coby Rogers for Johnson.  He induced a ground ball from Ben Tallman, but it was booted by Chatterton at short.  Fulk went to second on the play.

On a Mitch Wood strike out, Normal catcher Peyton Meredith threw wildly behind Fulk at second.  The throw bounded into the outfield allowing Fulk to go to third.  Cole was again hit by a pitch loading the bases.  Lincoln Riley took a pitch off the front of his jersey for an RBI.  Fulk scored and the bases were still loaded.  Hackbarth walked, collecting his second RBI.

Normal went to Spencer Smith from the pen.  He got Santiago looking.  Marcos Sanchez then laced a hard grounder to the shortstop side of second.  Chatterton made a good play to get to the ball, but Hackbarth beat him to the bag at second and never stopped running.  Riley rounded third for home, and Chatterton threw over Meredith's head at the plate.  Riley scored, as well as Hackbarth.  In the end, Sanchez had a single and an RBI, and the Bees had three more runs.  Burlington led 9-7.

Normal got to reliever David Theriot for two runs to tie it in the top of the ninth. The teams went to extra innings.

Normal won the game in the twelfth.  DiLello drove a single to left off Nick Tampa.  John Stallcup dropped perfect pinch hit sacrifice bunt down the third baseline. Henson flied out, but Blemler put the CornBelters ahead with a single to right, which proved to be the game winner.

Burlington once again stranded runner all evening.  They left 12 on in this one, including the tying run at third in the bottom of the twelfth.

The Bees travel to Illinois Valley to face the Pistol Shrimp on Tuesday.