Fielders end 2010 season with 5-4 walk off win

Zion, Ill. – The Lake County Fielders (41-59) ended their 2010 inaugural season in fashion as they took a 5-4 walkoff win over the Rockford RiverHawks in ten innings on Monday night. The Fielders ended the 2010 Northern League regular season tied for seventh with the Schaumburg Flyers.

Down by one run with one out in the bottom of the tenth and an 0-2 count, Cody Strait ripped a line drive to right field to plate the winning runs for the Fielders; scoring Josh Short who led off the tenth with a double and Juan Valdes who singled and stole second to set up the winning runs for Lake County.

Lake County’s closer Marco Gonzalez (4-4) was credited with the win despite giving up a tenth inning home run to Franco Valdes that gave Rockford a 4-3 lead.

Lake County got on the board in the first plating two runs off RBI singles from Kyle Higgins and Amos Ramon. Higgins ended the night 4-for-5 with one RBI. The RiverHawks tied it up in the fourth off starting pitcher Ryan Bicondoa when Rockford connected for five singles and two RBIs from Evan McArthur and Jono Brooks to tie the game at two.

Bicondoa helped himself in the fifth when he ripped a single in only his second plate appearance in his eight-year professional career. He came around to score on an RBI single off the bat of Short to take a Lake County 3-2 lead.

Bud Long tied the game up in the seventh off Bicondoa with a leadoff homer, his second of the season. Long went 2-for-3 on the night with one RBI. Bicondoa was pulled after the seventh, giving up three runs on nine hits, while striking out five and walking no one. He also ended the night 1-for-2 in the batter’s box and scored one run for Lake County.

Chad Lundahl came in for Lake County and pitched a scoreless eighth, striking out two Rockford batters. Chris Homer struck out the side in the ninth to keep the game tied going into the Fielders half of the inning where the Fielders threatened to take the win as Jason James issued walks to Zach Larson and Guillermo Martinez. Higgins came to the plate and smacked his fourth hit of the game to right field; Larson rounded the bases but was thrown out by right-fielder Long at home to take the game into extra innings.

Lake County ended their inaugural season 41-59, with a 23-27 at home record. The franchise announced last week that Field Manager Fran Riordan will be returning for his sophomore season with Lake County in 2011. The Fielders will be selling tickets for the 2011 season starting tomorrow. For more information or to purchase tickets visit www.fieldersbaseball.com or call the front office at 847-731-8000.