The Southern Illinois Miners broke a 4-4 tie in the top of the 12th inning on a three-run home run by Ryan Lashley in a 7-5, extra-inning win over the River City Rascals at CarShield Field in O’Fallon, Missouri, taking the series two games to one in the rubber match between the division rivals.

It was the Rascals who scored first, as they bunched three singles together in the third inning off Chris Washington and went ahead 1-0 on Josh Silver’s hit. But in the top of the next inning, with a man on first, consecutive two-out hits by Anthony Critelli and Marc Flores set up Ben Moore, who drove home two with a single of his own with the bases loaded to give Southern Illinois its first lead at 2-1 in the fourth. In the fifth inning, the Rascals scored an unearned run on an RBI single by Braxton Martinez to knot the score at 2-2.

Southern Illinois would go ahead in the top of the sixth inning, as they loaded the bases on two walks and a single before Craig Massey broke the tie with a sacrifice fly to make it 3-2. With men at first and third base, Southern Illinois then executed a double-steal, with Moore swiping second and Flores stealing home to make it 4-2. But the Rascals would tie the score, as they chased Washington with two leadoff walks in the bottom of the sixth. After a sacrifice bunt moved the runners over to second and third, back-to-back RBI singles by Jason Merjano and Jimmy Kerrigan tied the game at 4-4. With the potential go-ahead run at third and just one out, however, Kyle Tinius induced Silver to ground into an inning-ending double play, keeping the score tied.

With the game turned over to the bullpens, both teams’s relief corps held the other team off the board, with Nick Palacios tossing two scoreless innings in the seventh and eighth and Chris DeBoo working out of trouble and stranding the bases loaded in the ninth. John Werner (2-0) pitched flawless frames in the tenth and eleventh along with four strikeouts, with neither team scoring with the International Tiebreaker in effect in the eleventh inning.

That changed in the twelfth, as Massey singled to move the automatic runner to third base leading off the inning. After a strikeout, Lashley came up and hammered the first pitch from Matt Chavarria (2-2) over the left field wall to make it 7-4. In the bottom half, Corey Sessions earned the save by permitting just one run to score, his first pro save in his first pro appearance as the Miners won the series.

Southern Illinois next moves on to Evansville to face another West Division rival in the Otters beginning on Friday night at 6:35 p.m. Tyler Stubblefield will take the hill for the Miners while Felix Baez will pitch the series opener for Evansville.

The Southern Illinois Miners are the 2016 Frontier League West Division Champions, the 2014 and 2015 Frontier League East Division Champions and the 2012 Frontier League Champions. They have been awarded the Frontier League Organization of the Year award three times since their inception, and also set a new Frontier League attendance record in 2007, their inaugural season. For ticket information, contact the Rent One Park box office at (618) 998-8499. For any additional information, visit our website at www.southernillinoisminers.com.

Box Score

Batting Stats

Batting
2B: B.Wiley (1).  HR: R.Lashley (6).  RBI: C.Massey (17), R.Lashley 3 (28), B.Moore 2 (8).  SF: C.Massey (3).  SB: M.Flores (9), B.Moore (3).
Team LOB: 9.

Fielding  A: C.Massey 3 (80), B.Wiley 3 (14), R.Lashley 2 (47), C.Washington (4), J.Werner (3).  DP: 1 (B. Wiley(2B) – C. Massey(SS) – A. Critelli(1B))  E: C.Massey (2), B.Wiley (3).  PO: C.Massey (66), B.Wiley 2 (15), R.Lashley (13), K.Wertz Jr. 4 (10), N.Earley 5 (57), A.Critelli 9 (9), M.Flores 3 (49), B.Moore 11 (200).  SBA: B.Moore 2 (42).  TC: C.Massey 5 (148), B.Wiley 6 (32), R.Lashley 3 (67), K.Wertz Jr. 4 (12), N.Earley 5 (60), A.Critelli 9 (10), M.Flores 3 (51), B.Moore 11 (213), C.Washington (5), J.Werner (4).

Batting
RBI: J.Merjano (20), J.Kerrigan (25), J.Silver (21), B.Martinez (17), B.Thomas (12).  SF: B.Thomas (1).  SB: J.Silver (8), B.Thomas (16).
Team LOB: 15.

Fielding
A: J.Merjano 3 (99), J.Silver 5 (72), C.Freeman (14), J.Morales 5 (100), M.Chavarria (1), R.Smith 2 (2).  PO: J.Merjano (56), J.Kerrigan 3 (58), J.Silver (21), B.Martinez (105), M.Jurgella 6 (200), B.Thomas 6 (74), C.Freeman 16 (224), J.Morales (45), C.Mincey (1). SBA: M.Jurgella 2 (35).
TC: J.Merjano 4 (159), J.Kerrigan 3 (60), J.Silver 6 (99), B.Martinez (111), M.Jurgella 6 (223), B.Thomas 6 (75), C.Freeman 17 (242), J.Morales 6 (150), C.Mincey (2), M.Chavarria (2), R.Smith 2 (2).

Pitching Stats

S Illinois
#	Pitcher	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	ERA
16	Washington, C	5.0	8	4	3	2	3	2.57
40	Tinius, K	1.0	2	0	0	0	0	2.86
1	Palacios, N	2.0	0	0	0	2	3	5.14
12	DeBoo, C	1.0	1	0	0	1	1	3.18
28	Werner, J	2.0	0	0	0	0	4	2.89
18	Sessions, C	1.0	1	1	0	0	0	4.50
		12	12	5	3	5	11

Pitching
BF: C.Washington 26, K.Tinius 4, N.Palacios 8, C.DeBoo 6, J.Werner 6, C.Sessions 4.
P-S: C.Washington 71-48, K.Tinius 10-6, N.Palacios 41-23, C.DeBoo 17-10, J.Werner 20-16, C.Sessions 15-10.

River City
#	Pitcher	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	ERA
31	Smith, R	4.2	8	2	2	0	0	3.86
22	Paesano, A	0.2	0	2	2	2	1	26.99
27	Zgardowski, J	2.2	1	0	0	0	4	2.46
6	Mincey, C	2.0	1	0	0	0	0	0.00
21	Laster, L	0.0	0	0	0	0	0	6.00
17	Kennedy, N	1.0	0	0	0	1	0	2.81
25	Chavarria, M	1.0	2	3	2	0	1	3.45
		12	12	7	6	3	6

Pitching
BF: R.Smith 22, A.Paesano 4, J.Zgardowski 9, C.Mincey 6, N.Kennedy 4, M.Chavarria 5.  P-S: R.Smith 64-43, A.Paesano 18-9, J.Zgardowski 33-22, C.Mincey 26-19, N.Kennedy 10-7, M.Chavarria 19-13.
WP: R.Smith (1).

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 R H E S Illinois 0 0 0 2 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 3 7 12 2 River City 0 0 1 0 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 5 12 0

by Steve Dunford

The National Weather Service has issued a Flash Flood Warning until 4:45 for most of Southeastern Illinois, with the exception of Hardin and Massac Counties.

There is a small portion of Franklin County in the warned area, which would include Thompsonville and Akin.

I spoke with Franklin County Emergency Management agency, and the only road closure in the county is Satch Road in the Christopher/Buckner area.

I will continue to update periodically on road closures throughout the region.

Here is the warning text below

The National Weather Service in Paducah has issued a

* Flash Flood Warning for…
White County in southeastern Illinois…
Northern Pope County in southern Illinois…
Northern Johnson County in southern Illinois…
Eastern Williamson County in southern Illinois…
Saline County in southern Illinois…
Southeastern Franklin County in south central Illinois…
Hamilton County in south central Illinois…
Gallatin County in southern Illinois…

* Until 445 PM CDT Friday

* At 1040 AM CDT, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing
heavy rain across the warned area. Up to three inches of rain have
already fallen in some locations. Flash flooding is expected to
begin shortly.

* Some locations that will experience flooding include…
Marion, Harrisburg, Carmi, Eldorado, McLeansboro, Shawneetown,
Grayville, Carrier Mills, Norris City, Goreville, Galatia, Ridgway,
New Harmony, Crossville, Enfield, Equality, Pittsburg, Creal
Springs, Lake Of Egypt Area and Carriers Mills.

From  Franklin County Emergency Management Agency

Frontier has reported a LANDLINE 911 outage in and near the City of Zeigler. This outage affects LANDLINE phone lines ONLY and not cellular. Please use cellular devices in the Zeigler area to contact 911 until further notice. Frontier is working on the issue. Contact 911 for emergencies ONLY.

UPDATE:  8:00 a.m.  Service has been restored.

SESSER- The Sesser Homecoming committee always brings some good classic country acts to Rend Lake Days.

Tonight Silvia will head line the show starting at 8:00 p.m.

Se was the country music newcomer of the year in 1979.  Two hits that comes to mind of hers was Nobody and Snapshot. 

While you are there enjoy some BBQ and roasted corn at Rend Lake Days in Sesser.

The horse pulling contest starts at 5:00 p.m. this evening, and the carnival opens at 6:00 p.m.

by Steve Dunford

So far the leading edge of storms are behaving themselves.  So far the biggest threat will be the possibility of intense lightning.

I just checked on NWS Chat out of St. Louis, and they just cancelled the Severe Thunderstorm watch that the Metro East and Washington County northward.

The leading edge of the storms are from an Okawville to Patoka to Effingham line, and it follows I-70 into Indiana.  We are still under a slight risk of severe weather, and I assume that is for development that might take place in the early morning hours.

I will follow this leading edge until it gets to the county, and will keep an eye on a cell NW off St. Louis.

If there is a warning issued, I will share it on the website’s Facebook page.

by Steve Dunford

In the last hour Southern Illinois has been placed under a slight risk of Severe Weather.

There can be pop up isolated storms in the heat of the day, as highs are forecasted to be in the lower 90’s, with a heat index around 100.

The majority of storms will be in the overnight hours.  The main severe threat is damaging thunderstorm winds, with a very slight tornado and large hail threat.

I will keep you updated for any watches, warnings or any other statements issued.

Sunday has the potential to be volatile as well.

sd

http://www.ksdk.com/mobile/article/sports/mlb/cardinals/cardinals-issue-statement-on-controversial-christian-day-speaker/63-448130547?scroll=151

ST LOUIS, MO – (Alexandria Martellaro – KSDK -TV.  Please click on the link above to read the full statement by the Cardinal organization.  Here is the introduction below.)

Each year, Christian Day at Busch Stadium is one of several community theme nights hosted by the Cardinals. Most years feature a keynote speaker who speaks about how Christianity has impacted their life in sports.

This year’s speaker, former Cardinal Lance Berkman, has made headlines, with some saying he’s been an outspoken opponent of the LGBT community.

Christian Day will take place on Sunday, July 30.