June 9th, 2009, Lisle, IL -It was the Dragons home opener Tuesday night, and the West Division first place team the Springfield Sliders were in town. Western Michigan Lefty Casey Webber was on the mound for the team in home green, while Drew Wardack took the Hill for the Sliders.
On the overcast night, the eager home crowd was looking for some fireworks from the offense. Unfortunately the Dragons were cold at the plate. Through the first 3 innings the, the Dragons only managed one hit, a double by clean up batter Dave Reynolds.
The Sliders didn’t do any better. Casey Webber brought his ace stuff early striking out 3 of the first 9 batters he faced, and only allowing one hit during that period. This would be a recurring theme throughout the game, as Webber struck out 8, walked 2, and gave up 3 hits in the 7 innings pitched.
The Dragons finally seemed like they were about to crack the sliders pitching staff in the bottom of the 8th inning. After Barrett Serrato lead off the inning with a single, DH Adam Davis moved him over to second with a sacrifice bunt. The next batter, speed demon Austin Kingslover moved him over with an infield single, and quickly stole his second base of the game giving him 11 on the year. With runners on second and third, SS Rafeal Garcia made a short pop out to left field. After the Dragons intentionally walked Cole Tyrell, it was up to returning star Dave Reynolds to come through in the clutch. Unfortunately he flew out to left on one pitch, and the Dragons left the 8th scoreless.
The game destined to go into extra innings with Adam Davis on the mound and the bottom of the Sliders order up in the 9th. Davis sadly lost control, walking Jarred Pepper, and plunking TJ Blanton. Number nine hitter Clay Cuno capitalized in drove in Pepper, and Slides scored the first run of the game in the 9th. The score held up, and Dupage Dragons fell to the Springfield Sliders 1-0.
Tickets are available by calling the Dragons’ ticket office at 630-241-2255 or by purchasing online at www.dupagedragons.com.
