Tim Rossell
Galesburg’s Coach Arnie Gonzalez sent his ace, #18 Tim Rossell, to the mound Saturday morning at Sunberg Field, his plan, simple, expand their season by one more game.
Number 18′s plan, not as simple, it’s my home field and you’re not going to beat me or my team today. What Coach Gonzales and Pitcher Rossell “may” have forgotten was the courtesy sign on the road into Sunberg Field for the Dunlap Eagles regarding his ace’s breaking ball.
Several Eagle batters were over heard with descriptive words for Rossell’s breaking ball and those that were left hit-less could only shake their head at a fast ball that would suddenly change directions just as it reached the plate.
Strike 3
Now mix that thought in with his fast ball, a change up, and you’ve got batters swinging at balls in the dirt, or for the most part, just listening to the umpire yell STRIKE 3. Rossell pitched a scoreless game, well except for the unearned run that came in part from an outfield error.
The Silver Streaks didn’t leave it all up to their pitcher to win this do-or-die game. The team brought their hitting bats and used them frequently on Dunlap’s pitcher Andrew Frankenreider. He started out with 1 2/3 innings that looked like the Silver Streaks were in for a tough day. Then I dunno if it was Andrew’s concentration that got the best of him or if the Streaks figured out his ball movement, but whenever Frankenreider (or any Eagle pitcher) would get 2 outs on the Streaks, Galesburg would step up and not allow him to close out the inning.
Missed Sign
Missed Sign
The Streaks played good ball…well except for the missed sign with runners on third and second that led to a “double play” for Dunlap by way of 2 Galesburg runners doing their best Benny Hill routine.
Overall a good momentum builder for Galesburg going into the LaSalle/Peru IHSA 3A sectional against Ottawa on Wednesday at 6:00 pm. With Ottawa being just a stone’s throw away from LaSalle, I’m sure the Streaks will will be hearing a “home team” Ottawa crowd throughout their game. You can see more images of Galesburg and Dunlap here.
