Rites of Spring?

The Devils failed to bloom in their latest contest.  The visiting Warriors of Willowbrook and their lefty ace, made the Devils look like esKimos.  Time away from the cages was not a kind respite as the Villa Park native sent 17 Devils back to the pines with a ‘K” on the scorecard.

Hinsdale’s Kasey Ourada pitched well enough to keep the Devils in the ballgame but defensive miscues and a couple of ducksnorts allowed the extra baserunners.  With the pitch count rising and temperatures falling, Coach Dorrance went to lefty Bill Rush.  Rush did his best to keep the villains of Villa Park off balance with a diet of sliders and off speed pitches but they kept chipping away and eventually chalked up a 6-1 victory over the Devils.

Offensively, the Devils collected eight hits on the day yet left nine runners stranded including the bags juiced twice.  Despite solid pitching from Willowbrook, the Devils managed to threaten several times.  In the second inning, Bill Auriemma started with a singled to center, Jason McClain drew a base on balls and Eric Wroble singled. With Devils dancing on all bases, the Warrior ace bore down and sent the next two Devils down swinging to close the frame. 

In the last half of the sixth, Brett Suchy doubled to right.  Jack Dinardo singled to left to score Suchy and the Devil lone run.  McClain singled but the Devils could not capitalize from there.  In the seventh, the Devils came alive.  With the malamutes barking from their igloo of a dugout, the Willowbrook flame thrower was beginning to rattle.  Taylor Weil started things off with a walk, Brock Piche came in to run, “Hot Carl” Madej singled to right and Suchy singled up the middle.  With the bases loaded, the Devils could not conjure up a run and the Warriors left the hosts with their third loss of the season. 

The next Devil contest will be held eventually, rite?