By JOHN BOHNENKAMP
The Burlington Bees’ first-half division title hopes rest on the next two games.
The Bees play at Clinton Friday and Saturday as the first half of the Prospect League season heads into final few games.
Burlington’s 10-5 win over the Quincy Doggy Paddlers on Thursday night at Community Field put the Bees into a better spot.
Burlington (10-10) is in second place, 3 1/2 games behind Clinton in the Northwest Division heading into the final two matchups against the LumberKings in the first half.
“We’ve got to win these two games against Clinton,” Bees manager Owen Oreskovich said. “Those are two giant games for us. And you know, Clinton’s been kind of rolling lately, so it would be good to go in there and shut them down two days in a row.”
The Bees had 18 hits against the Doggy Paddlers, taking control of the game with a three-run fourth inning and a three-run sixth.
“And we could have had a few more runs,” said Oreskovich, pointing out the 11 men left on base. “A couple of teams I’ve been around, when they start hitting like that everybody gets going. I think that’s the way it is with this team.”
The Bees rank second in the league with 180 hits, and are fifth with a .269 team batting average.
The middle of their lineup did the most damage in this game. No. 2 hitter Miles Risley was 4 for 5 and scored twice. Corey Boyette, the No. 3 hitter, was 3 of 4 and hit a three-run home run in the fourth inning that put the Bees in front to stay. Mason Schwalbach, hitting fourth, was 2 for 5 and drove in two runs. No. 5 hitter Kooper Schulte was also 2 for 5 and drove in a run.
“Those guys are coming together,” Oreskovich said. “They’re becoming really close, giving their little secrets away to each other during the game, things they see. Those are some good hitters in that lineup. So being able to learn from each other and then take that into your at bats and get good pitches and execute is the goal.”
Bees starting pitcher Jackson Rodgers (2-1) scattered five hits over five innings, striking out four.
“He gave up a couple of solo home runs, but that’s going to happen,” Oreskovich said. “I thought he pitched pretty well.”
The Bees got 11 hits in five innings off Quincy starter Hayden Steelman (1-2).
Photo: Burlington’s Corey Boyette watches his three-run home run in the fourth inning of Thursday’s game. (Steve Cirinna/Burlington Bees)
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