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Cardinals Nab Ranchers Tilson For $1.275 Million  
August 15, 2011

Posted Aug. 15, 2011 6:15 pm by Jim Callis
Filed under: Signings

The Cardinals have signed second-round pick Charlie Tilson for $1.275 million. That's nearly triple MLB's recommended $457,200 for his No. 79 draft slot, and almost as much as what St. Louis paid first-rounder Kolten Wong ($1.3 million as the No. 22 overall pick).

An outfielder from New Trier HS (Winnetka, Ill.), Tilson was one of the biggest stars at the 2010 Area Code Games. He profiles as a leadoff hitter/center fielder with a line-drive bat and above-average speed. He had committed to Illinois.

Ranchers Lose to Chicago Clout in SBL Championship Game   
July 31, 2011

Oak Lawn, Ill. - The Homestead Ranchers collegiate summer baseball team lost to the Chicago Clout in the Skyscrapers Baseball League championship game by a 6-1 score.  The game started out as a big question when the team arrived at the field to find a power outage throughout Oak Lawn, Illinois, that put the field lights and scoreboard out of commission.  However, power came on after about an hour and the game started close to the schedule.  In the first inning, the visiting Ranchers got 3 hits and 1 run thanks to a lead-off single by Jeremy Tirado, followed by Corey Lasky’s single through short.  A fielder’s choice by Mitch Glasser resulted in Lasky taking second while Tirado was thrown out at third.  Graham Wolff then hit a line drive single over second to bring Laksy home.  After those three hits, the Ranchers were only able to get 2 more in the remaining eight innings, a single in the top of the fifth by Brad Martin and another in the top of the ninth by Chris Krupee.  The Clout’s pitcher, a former AA level pitcher in the Colorado Rockies organization, proceeded to strike out 9 Ranchers, while walking one and hitting two, and did not allow a Ranchers’ base runner past second for the remainder of the game.

The Ranchers pitching started well and held the Clout to 2 runs through 4 innings, but gave up 2 more in the fifth and 1 in the seventh and eighth.  Final Score:  Clout 6 – Ranchers 1.

 

Championship Game - Homestead Ranchers vs. Chicago Clout (Away game)
Jul 30, 2011 (Sat), 7:00pm to 10:00pm
Arrive: 5:45pm
Pacetti Field
9400 Oak Park Ave. Oak Lawn , IL 60453 [Map]

Ranchers Earn Spot in SBL Championship Game
July 30, 2011

Oak Lawn, Ill. - The Ranchers earned a spot in the Skyscrapers Baseball League championship game with a thrilling 3-0 win over the Windy City Yankees at Pacetti Field.  The Ranchers went into the game needing a win to secure a place in the final game and didn’t disappoint the fans who made the drive through Chicago’s heavy rush hour traffic.

Thanks to a single by Corey Lasky, an RBI triple by Cory Stonelake and Graham Wolff’s RBI double in the bottom of the first, the Ranchers jumped out to a 2-0 lead and appeared to be ready to cruise to a win.  However, the Yankees pitcher settled down and held the Ranchers to no runs and only an infield single by Chris Kruppe through the sixth inning.  In the bottom of the seventh, Ross Donnan led off and got hit by a pitch, advanced to second on a wild pitch, and scored on Davide Harris’ line drive single through the hole between first and second for the Ranchers’ third and final run.  On the night, Ranchers’ hitters got 5 hits (3 singles, 1 double and 1 triple), walked 3 times and struck out 3 times. 

On defense, the Ranchers played an error-free game, with a number of highlight reel plays.  In the top of the fifth, right fielder Lasky snagged a hard hit one hopper and threw a strike to first to get the batter.  In the eighth, Kruppe made spectacular diving catch on a sinking line drive to center field.  With the wind knocked out of him and being unable to breathe, Kruppe turned the catch into a double play by firing to second base and getting the runner who had gone to third when the ball was hit.  Catcher David Baskin’s throw to third to get the first out on an attempted steal in the top of the ninth put a huge damper on what the Yankees though was the start of a rally. 

 

The Ranchers pitching put on another display of player versatility.  Catcher/first baseman Donnan got start and went 4 innings of one hit (an infield single), no run ball.  He then switched places with starting catcher Tyler Chamberlain-Simon, who threw 3 innings of no hit, no run ball.  Infielder Teddy Heiser entered the game in the eighth and pitched two innings of 3 up 3 down, closing out the game on a called strike three.  For the game, the Ranchers’ pitchers gave up 3 singles, walked 2 and struck out 7.  Final Score:  Ranchers 3 – Yankees 0.

 

 

Ranchers Take Second Game in SBL Tournament

Midlothian, Ill. -  Behind strong pitching and timely hitting, the Homestead Ranchers defeated the Chicago Titans by 5-1 in the second game of the Skyscrapers Baseball League round robin championship series.  The Ranchers stand 1-1 in the series.

 

Kyle Cassidy got the start for the Ranchers and threw 5 solid innings, scattering 5 singles and allowing only 1 run.  Noah Lieberman came in to pitch in the bottom of the sixth and held the Titans hitless and scoreless over the last 4 frames, while striking out 4.  After the Titans scored one run in the bottom of the first, they were able to get only one runner to third in the rest of the game, thanks to the excellent pitching and outstanding defense by the entire team.

 

 At the plate, the Ranchers collected 7 hits, with Graham Wolff getting two doubles and David Stillerman and Cory Stonelake connecting for one apiece.  Corey Lasky’s two singles and another by Mitch Glasser accounted for the remaining hits.  In the top of the first, the Ranchers got one run on a Glasser single and Wolff’s first double of the night.  The Ranchers went ahead for good in the top of the fourth when Stonelake doubled and then scored on a errant throw to first by the Titans second baseman on an Andrew Touhy grounder, with the throw ending up in the Ranchers’ dugout.  The Ranchers’ 2-1 lead held until the top of the seventh when Tyler Chamberlain-Simon was hit by a pitch and scored on a dropped fly ball in center field.  In the top of the ninth, the Ranchers brought home 2 more runs on a walk to Paul Sciortino, Stillerman’s double and a 2 RBI single by Lasky.  Cassidy was credited with the win and Lieberman got the save.  Final Score:  Ranchers 5 – Titans 1.

Ranchers Lose Tourney Opener on Walk-Off GS

  Oak Lawn, Ill - In their opening game in the Skyscrapers Baseball League tournament, the Ranchers were pitted against the Chicago Clout in what was expected to be a close contest.  During the regular season, the Ranchers were 2-1 against the Clout, winning the two games by 6-4 and 7-6 and losing one by 6-4.  The game lived up to expectations. The Ranchers went up early, with Mitch Glasser’s double and Cory Stonelake’s RBI single in the top of the first.  In the top of the third, Andrew Touhy collected a lead-off double down the right field line, advanced to second on Corey Lasky’s sacrifice bunt and ultimately scored on Charlie Tilson’s infield ground out.   Matt Rupert got the start on the mound for the Ranchers and held the Clout scoreless through three innings.  In the bottom of the fourth, the Clout plated one run and repeated that in the bottom of the fifth for a 2-2 tie game.  With Clout runners on first and third in the bottom of the sixth, Rupert got a fly out to left field on a nice running catch by Chris Kruppe for the last out of the inning, with the score remaining 2-2.  The Ranchers were unable to score in the top of the seventh and, in the bottom of that inning, Zach Klein relieved Rupert (6 innings, 6 strike outs, 1 walk).  Klein got a strike out to end the inning, stranding a Clout runner on third.  After seven, the score remained 2-2.

 

 In the top of the eighth  and two outs, Tilson got a single through shortstop and immediately stole second base.  Glasser’s infield single advanced Tilson to third and Glasser then stole second.  Cory Stonelake worked the pitcher to a 2-2 count and drove a liner just inside the right field line that went to the fence for a triple, scoring Tilson and Glasser.  Ross Donnan followed with a line drive over short bringing Stonelake home.  In that inning, the Ranchers scored 3 runs to pad the lead to 5-2.  The bottom of the eighth saw Klein again strand a Clout runner at third when the last batter rolled one to Graham Wolff at short for an easy force out at second, leaving the score at 5-2 Ranchers.

 

The Ranchers were unable to score in the top of the ninth.  In the bottom of that inning, the Clout’s lead-off batter grounded out, third to first.  The next batter got a ground ball single through second, followed by a line drive single over short.  The Clout’s fourth batter of the inning got on base on a catcher interference call by way of a late swing that was made after the ball had clearly passed the batter.  With the bases loaded, the Clout’s number 4 hitter put one over left center into the parking lot for a walk-off grand slam.  Final Score:  Ranchers 5 – Clout 6.

TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE UPDATE AND CHANGES   
The format and schedule for the Skyscrapers Baseball League tournament has been modified.  The tournament will be a round robin series, with the two teams having the best record then playing for the championship.  Each team will play 3 games leading up to the championship.

 

The Ranchers first game will be against the Chicago Clout on Wednesday, July 27, at 7.30 pm at Pacetti Field.  The second game will be against the Chicago Titans on Thursday, July 28, at at 7.30 pm at Howie Minas Field.  The third game will be on Friday, July 29, at 7.30 pm at Pacetti Field against the Windy City Yankees. 

 

The championship game will be played on Saturday, July 30, at 7 pm at Pacetti Field.

 

The rain dates are Saturday, July 30 at 1 pm and 4 pm at Pacetti Field and Sunday, July 31, at 2 pm at St. Laurence High School.

Ranchers to Play in Skyscrapers Baseball League Post-Season Tournament  
  
       Waukegan, Ill. - The Ranchers have committed to play in the double elimination post-season tournament being conducted by the Skyscrapers Baseball League.  Games will be played during the week of July 25-July 31.  The final schedule of match-ups and game times will be released Saturday, July 23.

Ranchers Baseball Team Ends Home Stand with Victory  
       Waukegan, Ill. - On another hot and humid evening, the Ranchers played their last home game of the season at Bowen Park against the Chicago Titans of the Skyscrapers baseball league.  This game showed the versatility of the Ranchers team.  At the plate, the Ranchers collected 11 runs from 17 hits, with Graham Wolff leading the way on a walk, 4 singles and 3 RBIs.  Andrew Touhy had 2 singles, a double and 2 RBIs.  Mitch Glasser provided 2 doubles and 2 RBIs and David Stillerman had a triple and single and 1 RBI.  On the night, the Ranchers had 5 extra base hits, 5 stolen bases, 2 sacrifice bunts and 1 sacrifice fly, but left 12 runners on base.  On the mound, the Ranchers used their pitch-by committee approach.  Newcomer George Sorenson got the start, followed by outfielder Cory Stonelake, infielder Graham Wolff, infielder Mitch Glasser and catcher Tyler Chamberlain-Simon.  The pitchers struck out 7 Titans while scattering 7 hits.  Stonelake was credited with the win.  Final Score:  Ranchers 11 – Titans 7.

Ranchers Rebound with Come from Behind Win over the Patriots   
     Waukegan, Ill. - In their second baseball game of the week, the Ranchers staged a bottom of the ninth rally to beat the Patriots 6-5.  The Patriots plated 1 run in the top of the first, 3 in the third and 1 in the top of the fourth to take a 5-0 lead.  In the bottom of the fourth, the Ranchers tied the game with 4 singles and a double.  In that inning, Mitch Glasser, Ross Donnan, Graham Wolff, and Clayton Culler collected singles, along with a walk to Charlie Tilson.  After the game was tied, Kyle Cassidy threw 5 innings of 0 runs, 2 hit ball to take the game to the bottom of the ninth.  In that frame, David Baskin hit a lead-off double down the third base line to the wall and Culler got his second single of the night to advance Baskin.  With one out and Baskin sitting on third, Andrew Touhy hit a deep fly ball to right field, scoring Baskin on the sacrifice.  Cassidy was credited with the win.  Final Score:  Ranchers 6 – Patriots 5.

Ranchers Drop Close Game to the Peotone Cats   
     Waukegan, Ill. - On a hot and humid Monday evening, the Ranchers met the Peotone Cats at Bowen Park for a Northern Illinois Baseball League contest to start the final week of the regular season.  The Ranchers’ bats were as hot as the weather, with the players collecting 11 hits on the night.  Corey Lasky and Charlie Tilson got a pair of singles each.  Tyler Chamberlain-Simon and Graham Wolff recorded doubles.  On the bases, the Ranchers stole 4 bases in 4 tries, but 9 runners were left stranded, 8 of which were in scoring position.  Matt Rupert got the start on the mound and went 5 innings while giving up 5 runs, 3 of which were earned runs.  Zach Klein threw 4 solid innings allowing 1 earned run.  Rupert was tagged for his first loss of the season; his record is now 5-1.  Final Score:  Cats 6 – Ranchers 4.

Ranchers Get Revenge in Victory Over the Illinois Jayhawks 

Ted Heiser

Midlothian, IlL. -  After an early season 5-4 lost to the Illinois Jayhawks, the Ranchers baseball team had their eyes set on the rematch.  The game pitted two evenly matched teams and was a pitchers’ duel, with the Ranchers coming out on top by a score of 4-2.  The Ranchers used a pitch-by-committee approach to preserve arms for the final week of the regular season.  Matt Rupert got the start and went 2 innings of no run ball.  Drew Ambioan threw the third, fourth and fifth innings, allowing one hit and no runs.  Mitch Glasser relieved Ambioan for the next two innings, with one unearned run scored by the Jayhawks.  Cory Stonelake pitched a no run eighth inning and Tyler Chamberlain-Simon closed out the ninth, giving up one run in his first appearance on the mound for the Ranchers.  On the night, Ranchers’ pitching recorded 7 strikeouts, while allowing 5 hits and 3 walks.  At the plate, the Ranchers were equally effective.  Chris Kruppe and Ross Donnan got doubles and Stonelake, Glasser, Corey Lasky, Davide Harris and David Stillerman were credited with singles.  With the score tied 0-0 going into the bottom of the third, Graham Wolff led off with a walk and advanced to third on Krupee’s double.  With two out, Stillerman beat out an infield single to third, scoring Wolff.  In the bottom of the fourth, Lasky reached first on a grounder through the middle, advanced to second on Charlie Tilson’s sacrifice bunt and scored thanks to Stonelake’s line drive single into right center.  The score remained 2-0 in favor of the Ranchers until the Jayhawks plated a run in the top of the seventh.  In the bottom of that inning, Tilson walked, stole second and then advanced to third on Stonelake’s ground out to second base.  Teddy Heiser, batting for Glasser, walked and stole second.  With runners on second and third and Chamberlain-Simon at the plate, the Jayhawks pitcher threw one into the dirt that got by the catcher.  Tilson flew to home and the catcher’s throw back to the pitcher for the tag was off target, with the ball going half-way down the first base line.  The pitcher attempted to get the ball, leaving home plate unprotected, and Heiser scored for the second run of the inning.  In all, the Ranchers got 7 hits and 5 walks, but struck out 8 times.  Final Score:  Ranchers 4 – Jayhawks 2.

Ranchers Grab Comeback Win in the Bottom of the Ninth To Edge The Panthers
 

Paul Sciortino

 

Waukegan, Ill, - Coming off a one run loss and a one run victory, the Ranchers’ baseball team was at Bowen Park to play the Crestwood Panthers in a Northern Illinois Baseball League showdown.  Going into the game, the Ranchers were 2-1 against the Panthers.  For the first 7 innings, the game was a pitching duel between Kyle Cassidy of the Ranchers and Clay Manering of the Panthers.  The Panthers were the first to put a run up when they got a double and 3 singles in the top of the third.  After a 3 strikeout top of the fourth, the Panthers touched Cassidy for their second run in the fifth.  The Ranchers finally got on the board in the bottom of the sixth when Tyler Chamberlain-Simon got on base on a shortstop error and Paul Sciortino coaxed a walk.  Clayton Culler then hit a liner into left, scoring Chamerlain-Simon.  In the bottom of the seventh, the Ranchers tied the game on singles by Cory Stonelake and David Stillerman, followed by Chamberlain-Simon’s fielder’s choice to advance Stonelake and Andrew Touhy’s drive into right that resulted in an error, scoring Stonelake.  In the top of the eighth, the Panthers’ lead-off hitter reached base on a catcher’s interference call and their next batter parked one over dead center field for 2 runs scored.  The Ranchers got a runner in scoring position in the bottom of the eighth but could not bring him across.  In the top of the ninth, the Panthers threatened with runners on first and second and one out, but a laser by catcher Chamberlain-Simon to Touhy at third caught a runner trying to steal.  A fly ball to shallow left ended the Panthers’ threat. Now for the excitement.  In the bottom of the ninth, the Ranchers’ second batter, Stillerman walked, followed by a ground out for the second out in the inning.  With two down, Touhy walked, to put runners on first and second.  Sciortino stepped to the plate and worked the Panthers’ pitcher, Manering, to a full count. On Manering’s next pitch to Sciortino (which was Manering’s 165th pitch of the night), Sciortino hit a drive down the right field line.  The right fielder made a diving try for the ball and deflected it into the right field corner.  Stillerman and Touhy scored to tie the game as Sciortino sprinted to third for a triple.  The Panthers’ fielder fired the ball to third trying to nail Sciortino but the ball got past the third baseman and Sciortino then motored home for the winning run. On the night, Cassidy threw 7 innings (106 pitches), striking out 5, walking 1 and giving up 8 hits and 2 earned runs.  Reliever Drew Ambioan pitched the 8th and 9th and picked up the win. The Ranchers batters struck out 12 times, walked 7 times and collected 8 hits, with Mitch Glasser getting a single and a double, Stonelake adding 2 singles and Corey Lasky and Brad Martin contributing a single each to go with Sciortino’s 3 RBI triple. The Ranchers now stand at 9 wins, 2 losses in games played in the Northern Illinois Baseball League (with 2 forfeits by opposing teams not included in the win/loss record).  Overall, the Ranchers are 15-9 in games played and 17-9, including the no-show forefeits.

 

Kyle Cassidy

Ranchers Lose Close Game to Titans
Oak Lawn, Ill. - After spotting the Chicago Titans 6 runs in the first 5 innings, the Ranchers staged a comeback and tied the game 7-7.  However, the Titans got the final run to win by a score of 8-7.  Details later.

Ranchers Defeat Clout in Exciting Game   
 
Oak Lawn, Ill. - The Ranchers defeated the Chicago Clout 7-6 in a Skyscrapers League contest.  The Ranchers went up 7-0 and held on as the Clout came roaring back.  Details later

Ranchers Defeat Chicago Clout  

Ross Donnan

 

 

Waukegan, Ill. -  After a disappointing mid-week when they were unable to play two games because the opposing teams failed to show up at Bowen Park, the Ranchers finally took to the field on a balmy Friday evening to face the Chicago Clout of the Skyscrapers League.  Timely hitting and a bull pen pitching outing gave the Ranchers a 6-4 come from behind victory.  Corey Lasky and Tyler Chamberlain-Simon led the hitting with two singles each, Chris Kruppe and Mitch Glaser added a single apiece and Andrew Touhy and Ross Donnan each connected with a double.  Chamberlain-Simon, Kruppe, Tough and Glasser were credited with RBIs.  The Ranchers were down 3-0 going into the bottom of the fourth when the team put up 5 runs on 4 hits, 1 walk and 1 Clout fielding error.  The final run came in the bottom of the eighth when Chamberlain-Simon got on base by taking one for the team and scoring on Touhy’s double.  On the mound, Noah Lieberman, Zach Klein, Kyle Cassidy, Matt Rupert and Drew Ambioan combined to hold the Clout to 4 hits, while striking out 7.  Klein got the win after 3 innings of 1 hit ball and Ambioan got the save.  Cassidy faced 6 batters in 2 innings and struck out the side in the top of the sixth.  Final Score: Ranchers 6 – Clout 4.

 

Andrew Touhy

Ranchers Graham Wolff and Matt Rupert Named to D-III All Buckeye State Baseball Team
  

Matt Rupert

 

 

Columbus, Ohio - On July 5, 2011, Buckeye State Baseball announced that Rancher players Graham Wolff, infielder at Wittenberg University, and Matt Rupert, pitcher at Wittenberg, were named to the third team of the Division III All Buckeye State Baseball team.  The selection was made from players at all of the D-III schools located in Ohio.   In their spring seasons at Wittenberg, Wolff was a first team all conference selection and Rupert was a second team all conference selection  in the North Coast Athletic Conference.

 

Graham Wolff

Ranchers Split DH Against the Lexington Snipes   
Mitch Glasser

 

Lexington, Ill. -  The Ranchers were on the road again for a double header against the Lexington Snipes and these games tested the endurance of the players.  After making the 130 mile drive, the team arrived at the field to find 95 degrees in the shade and a 108 degree heat index.  Because of the 4th of July holiday weekend, the Ranchers were shorthanded, playing with only 9 players in each game.  The first game highlighted timely hitting and good pitching.  At the plate, the Ranchers collected 13 hits, with Mitch Glasser getting 2 singles and a double, Graham Wolff providing a single and a double, David Stillerman contributing 2 singles and 2 RBIs.  Bob Cook added a double, and Andrew Touhy, Tyler Chamberlain-Simon, Corey Stonelake, Clayton Culler and Chris Harang each got singles.  Noah Lieberman was pressed into service in the outfield and made an excellent running catch of a line drive; he also walked twice and was credited with 1 RBI.  Matt Rupert got the call to start and threw 6 effective innings while striking out 5 and allowing 3 earned runs.  Ryan Windt made his first relief appearance as a Rancher and closed out the game with a ground ball and two strike outs.  Final Score:  Ranchers 10 – Snipes 5.

In the second game, the Ranchers bats went to sleep and the team collected only 2 hits.  Cook got a deep home run over the right field fence and into the neighboring front yard and Corey Stonelake hit s single.  The Snipes got 7 hits, including  home run and a double, to put 8 runs on the board.  Final Score: Ranchers 1 – Snipes 8

 

David Stillerman

 

Ranchers Lose Close Game to the Chicago Clout  
Kyle Cassidy

 

 

Oak Lawn, Ill. -  After playing in the lighting and rain the night before, the Ranchers were in Oak Lawn to face the Chicago Clout in a Skyscrapers’ League contest.  In the bottom of the first, the Clout but 2 runs on the board by a walk, triple and sacrifice fly.  In the top of the second, the Ranchers scored one thanks to back to back walks to Ross Donnan and Charlie Tilson, followed by an RBI single by Christian Rivera.  The Clout added another run in the bottom of the fourth on a home run.  Coming into the top of the seventh, the Ranchers were down 3 to 1, but scored 3 runs, thanks to singles by Donnan and Graham Wolff, Rivera taking one for the team, a sacrifice fly by Clayton Culler and a 2 RBI single by Corey Lasky.  Unfortunately, the lead was short lived because in the bottom of the eighth, the Clout added two more runs.  On the night, Donnan had a double and single, to lead the hitters, with 5 players getting a single each.  Kyle Cassidy went the distance for the Ranchers, striking out 9 over 8 innings, while allowing 6 hits and 2 walks.  Final Score:  Clout 6 – Ranchers 4.

 

Clayton Culler

Ranchers Lose to the Park Ridge Indians  
 

Christian Rivera

Midlothian, Ill. - The Homestead Ranchers took to the road for a non-conference game against the Park Ridge Indians played at Howie Minas Field in Midlothian.  Before the first pitch, there was some concern that a storm forming over Lake Michigan would make its way inland and disrupt the game, but the sky cleared and the game got underway on time.  As the visitors, the Ranchers did nothing in the top of the first going three up and three down.  In the bottom of the first, the Indians put 3 runs on the board, via three singles coupled with 3 walks and a hit batter.  In the bottom of the third, the Indians plated 2 more runs for a 5-0 lead.  Through 5 innings, the Ranchers bats were cold, collecting only 3 hits, singles by Graham Wolff and David Stillerman and a double by Christian Rivera, while striking out 6 times.  On the night, the Ranchers did not advance a runner past second base.  During the top of the fifth, the storm that was not supposed to be showed up with spectacular a lightening display and a torrential downpour and after the Ranchers completed their at bat in the top of the fifth, the game was called because of rain with a final score of 5-0.  After this loss, the Ranchers stand at 11 wins, 7 losses for the season.

Graham Wolff

Ranchers Rebound with Impressive Sweep of Crestwood Panthers

Cory Stonelake

Chicago Height, Ill. -  Coming off their worst defeat of the 2011 season at the hands of the Crestwood Panthers, the Ranchers travelled to Prairie State College for a twin bill against the same Panthers team. The first game saw timely hitting and excellent base running by the Ranchers.  Mitch Glasser had 2 singles, 3 stolen bases and scored 3 times.  Corey Stonelake hit 3 line drive singles, resulting in 2 RBIs.  Bob Cook and Clayton Culler also had 2 RBIs each.  Graham Wolff gathered 2 singles and had 2 stolen bases.  Matt Rupert had another excellent outing on the mound with a complete game victory.  He got 8 strike outs, coupled with 4 walks and one hit batsman, and held the hard hitting Panthers to 3 hits and one unearned run.  On the season, Rupert has pitched 30 innings, getting 35 strikeouts, with opposing teams scoring only 2 runs, both of which were unearned.  Final score: Ranchers 6 – Panthers 1.

Matt Rupert

The second game was a continuation of the first.  The Ranchers’ bats stayed hot.  Stonelake led the hitting with 2 doubles and a single.  Cook, Chris Kruppe and Teddy Heiser provided 2 singles each, with David Stillerman and Ross Donnan contributing one single apiece.  Stonelake, Cook, Kruppe, Stillerman, Donnan and Andrew Touhy were credited with 1 RBI each.  Kyle Cassidy got the start and went 5 strong innings, allowing 2 hits and 3 earned runs while picking up 3 strikeouts for the victory.  Stonelake got the save with 2 effective innings of 1 hit ball and 3 strikeouts.  Final score: Ranchers 6 – Panthers 3. After these two wins, the Ranchers sport an 8-2 record in the Northern Illinois Baseball League and 11-6 overall.

Kyle Cassidy

  Ranchers Clawed by the Crestwood Panthers

 

Ted Heiser

Waukegan, Ill.  Coming off a close 3-2 loss to the Lombard Orioles of the Chicago Suburban Baseball League, the Ranchers took on the Crestwood Panthers who sported a 6-0 record in the Northern Illinois Baseball League.  The Panthers jumped on Ranchers’ pitching in the second inning, scoring two runs and continued the onslaught by adding 6 more runs in the fourth and 4 in the seventh.  The Ranchers’ lone tally came in the bottom of the sixth, when Teddy Heiser singled and came home on an RBI single by Andrew Touhy.  Touhy, Jeremy Tirado and Brad Martin each collected two singles apiece and Clayton Culler added one.  Final score:  Panthers 12 – Ranchers 1.

Andrew Touhy

Ranchers Suffer Tough Loss to Lombard Orioles  
June 23, 2011

Bob Cook

Lombard, Ill. - After suffering a lengthy trip to Lombard, made difficult due to the many traffic lights that were not operating as a result of a severe storm, the Ranchers also suffered a tough loss to the Lombard Orioles on a night that featured the Ranchers leading in nearly every offensive category but the final score.  The Ranchers tagged Oriole pitching for 10 hits, including a single and 2 RBI double by Bob Cook and a pair of singles by Corey Lasky.  The hitters were patient at the plate again, striking out only 3 times while walking 3 times and getting hit by a pitched ball once.  Unfortunately, the team stranded 11 runners, including 7 in scoring position.  The Ranchers pitchers were able to gather 7 strikeouts of Oriole batters, with three walks.  Through 4 1/2 complete innings, the Ranchers held a 2-0 lead, after collecting the 2 runs in the top of the third.  In the bottom of the fifth, the Orioles were able to plate 3 runs on a pair of doubles and a home run to end the night’s scoring.  Bob Cook was again very effective on the mound, pitching 4 innings of one hit ball, while striking out 7 and walking 2 and allowing 0 runs.  Final score:  Orioles 3 – Ranchers 2.

This game marked the fourth one run loss for the Ranchers this year.  So far this season, the Ranchers have outscored their opponents 82-37.

Ranchers Sweep Chicago Panthers in Twin Bill

Matt Rupert

Chicago Heights, Ill. - On Father’s Day, the Ranchers travelled to Prairie State College for a double header against the Chicago Panthers.  The first game saw Matt Rupert provide another excellent pitching performance in a 5 inning shut-out that was shortened by the mercy rule.  He faced 19 batters, allowed 3 ground ball singles (two of which were in-field hits), no walks, and one hit batsman, while striking out 7.  Apart from one grounder that was just out of the shortstop’s reach, no other Panther hit the ball into the outfield.  At the plate, the Ranchers seemed stymied by the Panthers’ pitchers, collecting 5 singles, with 2 by Brad Martin, and 1 double by Corey Stonelake.  However, the Ranchers were helped by 6 walks, 2 hit batsman, and 2 fielding errors enabling the team to plate 11 runs.  Final score: Ranchers 11 – Panthers 0.

 

 

Corey Lasky

 In the second game, the Ranchers’ bats came alive, resulting in a 13-3 victory in another mercy rule shortened game.  The team collected 12 hits, with Cory Lasky getting a triple and a single for 3 RBIs, Davide Harris hitting 2 singles and Bob Cook and Charlie Tilson each slamming a double to the center field fence.  Tilson’s line drive bomb resulted in 2 RBIs.  The Ranchers also walked 6 times and one batter was hit by a pitched ball.  The highlight inning came in the bottom of the fourth, when the Ranchers put 16 batters to the plate and scored 10 runs on 8 hits.  Noah Lieberman (2 innings), Bob Cook (3 innings) and Mitch Glasser (1 inning) split the mound time, with Cook getting the win while allowing 3 hits and 1 run.  This win runs the Ranchers’ win streak to 5 games and the team’s record now stands at 9 wins – 4 losses.

 

Ranchers Upend Chicago Titans in a Hitters’ Duel

Charlie Tilson

 

Waukegan, Ill. - Coming off of two impressive shutouts over the Peotone Cats, the Ranchers were at home against the Chicago Titans of the Skyscrapers League for a 9 inning contest that turned into a slugfest.  Kyle Cassidy got the nod and threw 3 2/3 solid innings.  However, the Titans bats were hot and they collected 4 runs on 6 hits.  John Spoelstra, making his first appearance as a Rancher, came in to relieve and allowed the Titans 3 runs over 2 1/3 innings.  Drew Ambioan and Bob Cook spilt an inning each and held the Titans scoreless.  On offense, the Ranchers provided timely hitting and base running.  Mitch Glasser led the way with 2 singles and 2 RBIs.  Corey Stonelake hit a double off the wall in deep center field to clear the bases and collect 3 RBIs and Bob Cook provided a line drive single into left that scored two. The highlight inning occurred in the bottom of the fourth and showed the Ranchers’ small ball abilities. David Stillerman coaxed a lead-off walk, followed by Charlie Tilson’s attempted sacrifice bunt that turned into an infield single when he beat the throw from third.  Glasser laid down a perfect bunt between the pitcher and a charging third baseman for another infield single that loaded the bases.  Cook followed with a ground ball fielder’s choice that resulted in the runner from third getting called out at the plate.  Stonelake then hit the fence in center with all three runners scoring.  On the bases, Tilson, Glasser and Cook recorded stolen bases.  For the game, the two teams had a total of 22 hits, 12 walks, and 16 strikeouts.  Final score:  Ranchers 9, Titans 7.

 


Kyle Cassidy 

 

After 11 games, the Ranchers are 7-4 and stand at 2-1 in the Skyscrapers League, 4-1 in the Northern Illinois Baseball League, 0-1 in the Chicago Suburban League, and 1-1 in non-conference play.  The Ranchers travel to Prairie State College this coming weekend for a 9 inning game against the Chicago Panthers and another 9 inning game against the Illinois Jayhawks.  Next week, the Ranchers play 3 consecutive games against tough teams in the Chicago Suburban league.

Rupert, Lieberman Shine in Doubleheader Victories over Peotone

 

Matt Rupert

 

Chicago Heights, Ill. - After a rain-out of a scheduled Saturday double header, the Ranchers visited Prairie State College for a double header match up against the Peotone Cats of the Northern Illinois Baseball League.  The two games highlighted excellent pitching and hitting.  In the first game, Matt Rupert got the start and went 6 strong innings, scattering 4 singles, while walking 2, striking out 7, and allowing 0 runs.  Rupert got the win and Drew Ambioan finished the game the game 3 up, 3 down with one strikeout.  On the hitting front, Charlie Tilson and Bob Cook collected a single and a double each, Mitch Glasser added a double, Paul Sciorantino provided a 2 RBI single, and Tyler Chamberlain-Simon and Ross Donnan each got singles.  Final score: Ranchers 5 – Cats 0.

 

Noah Lieberman
 
In the second game starter Noah Lieberman was excellent, pitching a complete game.  His stats tell the story.  He faced 25 batters, gave up 2 walks, 1 hit by pitch, and collected 10 strikeouts.  Going into the bottom of the seventh,  the Cats were hitless, but the lead-off batter dropped a bloop over the second baseman’s head for the Cats first and last hit of the game.   At the plate, the Ranchers got 7 singles, with 3 by Glasser and 2 by Chamberlain-Simon, accounting for 4 runs.  Final score:  Ranchers 7, Cats 0.

 

 

Paul Sciortino

Ranchers go down to the Jayhawks

Christian Rivera

 

Midlothian, Ill. - With a day’s rest following their victory over the Patriots, the Ranchers journeyed to Howie Minas Field in Midlothian to take on the Illinois Jayhawks in another Northern Illinios Baseball League game.  This game started as a pitchers’ duel, with the Jayhawks pitcher allowing only singles to Jeremy Tirado and Lowell Hall and a walk to Corey Stonelake over the first three innings to account for 2 runs.  Not to be impressed by that, Ranchers’ Bob Cook allowed only one single, no walks, no runs, and struck out 3 over the same 3 innings.  After a 1-2-3 up and down for the Ranchers in the top of the fourth, the Jayhawks got on the board when Stuart Haley hit a batter and surrendered a double for one run.  The Ranchers countered in the top of the fifth with singles by Ross Donnan and Graham Wolff, followed by an RBI double by Christian Rivera, giving the Ranchers a 2-1 lead. That score went into the top of the sixth, when the Ranchers put 2 more on the board with a walk to Davide Harris, an RBI triple by Bob Cook and an RBI double by Corey Stonelake.  The score then stood at Ranchers 4, Jayhawks 1.  In the bottom of the sixth, the Jayhawks got to reliever Adam McClure for 3 runs on a bunt single, followed by a fielding error and 3 consecutive singles.  The score remained tied at 4-4 until the bottom of the eighth, when a walk and a double by the Jayhawks led to 1 run.  In the top of the ninth, the Ranchers got a lead-off double from Cook who advanced to third but was unable to score the tying run. 

 

Drew Amboian

 

 ON the night, the Ranchers got 8 hits (including one triple and 3 doubles) and 5 walks, while striking out 6 times.  The Ranchers pitchers (Cook, Haley, McClure, and Drew Ambioan) gave up 10 hits, 4 walks and struck out 7.  Ambioan was tagged with the loss.

 


Davide Harris

 

Ranchers lose a tough one to the Beecher Muskies

 

Tyler Chamberlain-Simon

 

Homewood, Ill. - After five games in four days, the Ranchers traveled to Homewood to take on the Beecher Muskies of the Chicago Suburban Baseball League.  Jeremy Tirado led off with a single and scored on an RBI single by Mitch Glasser.  The second inning was more of the same with Tyler Chamberlain-Simon, Clayton Culler and Tirado collecting 3 singles, leading to one run for a 2-0 Ranchers lead.  In the bottom of the third , the Muskies woke up at the plate, collecting a walk and a single, followed by a home run.  Their bats woke up again in the bottom of the fifth with a double and another home run, making the score Muskies 5, Ranchers 2.  The top of the sixth was a highlight reel for Ranchers’ batters.  Singles by Graham Wolff and Culler were followed by an error by the Muskies first baseman, allowing Teddy Heiser to get the base.  Tirado hit another single and then Mitch Glasser dropped a bomb into the next county for a home run. 

 

Ted Heiser

 

 By the time the inning ended, the Ranchers were on top 7 to 5.  Unfortunately, in the bottom of the seventh, the Muskies scored 3 more, on 2 singles and a home run to take the lead 8 to 7.  The Ranchers were unable to score after that.  On the night, Tirado led the hitting with 4 singles, with Wolff and Culler collecting 2 each.  Kyle Cassidy, Adam McClure, Stuart Haley and John Saleh split the pitching duties, with Haley taking the loss.

Ranchers Beat the USA Play Ball Patriots in Rain Shortened Game

Ross Donnan

 

Waukegan, Ill. - Coming off a tough 8-7 loss to the Beecher Muskies of the Chicago Suburban Baseball League on June 7, the Ranchers returned home to play in the Northern Illinois Baseball League against the USA Patriots at Bowen Park.  Unfortunately, the 9 inning game was ended early due to lightning but it was still an official game.  The Ranchers hopped on the Patriots pitching in the first inning with David Stillerman getting a single and then scoring on a Patriots fielding error.  In the 4th inning, Bob Cook’s lead-off home run over the left field fence set the tone.  He was followed by a Mitch Glasser single and a walk to  Christian Rivera.  Ross Donnan’s RBI single and the same by Clayton Culler gave the Ranchers a 3-run inning.  Matt Rupert got the start and went 4 innings, giving up 2 infield singles, a liner over the second baseman, and a sharp grounder down the line over the bag at third.  However, his 4 strike outs, a rocket from catcher Ross Donnan to shortstop Jeremy Tirado to end an attempted steal, and an excellent double play by Tirado unassisted at second and on to first meant no runs for the Patriots.  Noah Lieberman came in as relief in the top of the 5th  and collected 2 strikeouts and a ground out to end the inning and the game.  Lieberman was credited with the win.

 


 
David Stillerman

 

To date the Ranchers are 2-0 in the Northern Illinois Baseball League, 1-1 in the Skyscrapers League, 0-1 in the Chicago Suburban Baseball League, and 1-1 in non-conference action.

Ranchers Split Twin Bill Against the Joliet Dirtbags

Corey Stonelake

 

Joliet, Ill. -Playing their 4th and 5th games in 3 days, the Ranchers traveled to Joliet to meet the Joliet Dirtbags in a non-conference double header on a very hot Sunday afternoon.  In the first game, Matt Rupert got the call to start and threw 4 solid innings of one hit, no runs, no walk ball, while striking out 6 Dirtbags.  He left the game with the team leading 2-0 and was relieved by infielder/outfielder Corey Stonelake, who gave up only 1 hit while striking out 3 over the last 3 innings of the game.  Rupert was credited with the win and Stonelake got the save.  Again the Ranchers fielding was excellent with no errors on 12 fielding opportunities.  The team’s bats woke up a bit in this game, getting 8 singles and a double by Bob Cook.  Jeremy Tirado recorded an RBI single and Cory Lasky got an RBI sacrifice fly to account for the team’s scoring.

 


 
Cory Lasky

 

In the second game of the day, the Ranchers lost a 3-2 contest.  Noah Lieberman got the start and went 3 innings, giving up 2 runs on 1 hit while striking out 4.  With the game tied 2-2, infielder/catcher Ross Donnan threw 2 effective innings of relief, with one run scoring on a fielding error.  Christian Rivera closed out the game with 0 runs in the bottom of the 6th.  The Ranchers’ batters showed excellent patience at the plate, striking out only 3 times, while getting 4 walks and one hit by pitch.  However, hits were hard to come by and the team only got 4 singles plus Brad Martin’s 2-RBI double.
 
The Ranchers now stand at 3 and 2 for the season.

Ranchers Fall to the Upper Deck Cougars

 

Mitch Glasser

OAK LAWN - The Homestead Ranchers stranded 11 runners on base in a 5-0 loss to the Upper Deck Cougars Saturday night at Pacetti Field. It was Homesteads first defeat of the season. 

The Ranchers (2-1) drew 10 walks against Cougars, but the Ranchers' offense was limited by Upper Deck's pitching staff, which tallied 10 strike outs. The Cougars starting pitcher, drafted by the Kansas City Royals of the Major League Baseball, only allowed two hits in five innings of work. 

John Saleh threw three scoreless innings before the Cougars pushed two across in the fourth to take a 2-0 lead. 
 

The Ranchers stranded three runners in the sixth and seventh innings and could not overcome the deficit. Tyler Chamberlain-Simon and Mitch Glasser tried to spark the Ranchers offensively, both accounted for four of the Ranchers five hits. Chamberlain-Simon singled and doubled in the comeback effort.


Christian Rivera

Chamberlain-Simon, Christian Rivera and Jeremy Tirado came in for relief and held the Cougars to one run and two hits. 

Homestead will be back in action tomorrow when it travels to Joliet for a twin bill against the Joliet Dirtbags.

 

 Rancher Pitchers Shutdown the Americans

Bob Cook 

 

 

Bob Cook was perfect through five. 

OAK LAWN, Ill. - The Homestead Ranchers' pitching set the table for a 6-1 victory over the Chicago Americans on Friday night. It was the second consecutive win for the Ranchers and first of the season against a member of the Skyscrapers League. 

The Americans could seem to figure out Ranchers' pitcher Bob Cook. The righty compiled five innings of perfect baseball allowing no runs, hits or walks, while striking out seven. Manager Chris Harang went with a comitee of pitchers to finish the ball game, with Matt Rupert, Kyle Cassidy, Noah Lieberman and John Saleh each throwing one inning of work. The Ranchers' pitching staff only surrendered three American hits.  

Jeremy Tirado led the Homestead offense tallying a three-hit, two RBI outing. His bases-loaded single in the seventh scored Ty Chamberlain-Simon and Corey Lasky and put the Ranchers up 4-1. 

Lowell Hall

 

Lowell Hall and Corey Stonelake's bats accounted for three Rancher runs. 

Kyle Cassidy was credited with the win. 

The Ranchers will take on the Upper Deck Cougars Saturday, June 4 at 7 p.m. in Oak Lawn. 

Ranchers Blast Panthers, 10-2
Offensive Explosion Leads To Season Opener Victory

WAUKEGAN, Ill. - The Homestead Ranchers jumped out to a 5-0 lead after two innings and never looked back in cruising to a 10-2 victory over the Chicago Panthers in Thursday night's season opener.

 

Bob Cook collected three RBIs on the night, including a line drive to center field in the first inning that scored Tirado giving the Ranchers an early 1-0 lead. Cook later doubled in the second to extend the Ranchers lead to 5-0.

 

The Rancher's pitching was dominant , starter Matt Rupert shut down the Panthers offense only allowing one run in four innings of work. Kyle Cassidy worked the middle frames, notching five strikeouts. Noah Lieberman worked 3 innings striking out 7.

 

Corey Lasky sealed the win for Homestead in the bottom of the eighth when his single to left drove in Christian Rivera and gave the Ranchers a 10-2 lead.

 

Closer John Saleh made an appearance in the ninth inning and retired the Panters' batters in order.

 

Our pitchers were excellent for the first game of the season, recording 18 strikeouts with a 69% strike-to-ball ratio and 58% of first pitch strikes.

 

The Homestead Ranchers take to the road for the first time this season when they take on the Chicago Americans on Friday, June 3 at 7:30 p.m. at Pacetti Field.

 

 

2011 SEASON OPENER AND SEASON PREVIEW 

 

Glenview, Ill. - The boys of summer return to action this weekend as the Homestead Ranchers baseball club opens its 2011 season against the Chicago Panthers. First pitch is set for 8 p.m. on Thursday, June 2 at the Rancher's home field, Bowen Park, located in Waukegan, Ill.

 

In the second season of the programs existence, the Ranchers will play the 2011 campaign as an affiliate member of the Chicago Suburban Baseball League (CSBL) after participating in the Great Plains Baseball League in 2010. The Ranchers' schedule features games against teams from both leagues, and the Ranchers will be a full member of the CSBL in 2012. 

 

The Ranchers, based out of the AcademyElite Baseball Club, are coming off a successful inaugural season in 2010 where they fell in the Great Plains Baseball League North Division Championship to the Rockford Foresters.

 

First year head coach, Chris Harang, will look to jump start his Homestead Ranchers career in the right direction. Last season, Harang served as the manager of the AE Nationals where he compiled a 28-13 mark in tournament play. Harang was the General Manager of Frozen Ropes Baseball before coming to the AcademyElite program in 2009. 

 

Last years Most Valuable Player, Tyler Chamberlain-Simon, returns to the season as one of the most indispensable members on the Ranchers' roster. The all-time AcademyElite ERA leader, is option for the squad on the mound, behind the plate and in the outfield.  

 

Injuries will play a factor in the Ranchers' season. Esteban Abbey will miss the entire 2011 season due to surgery. Abbey a middle infielder from Bethel University has tormented opposing teams with his speed and power at the top of the line up. 

 

2010 Great Plains Baseball League All-League member, Andrew Touhy, will be out of the line up until mid-June with a hamstring injury. Touhy led the Ranchers in RBI's in 2010 and had a near-perfect fielding percentage at second base. He is looking forward to a another successful summer.

 

The Ranchers had three players receive all-conference honors this past spring in their respective collegiate conferences. Mitch Glasser (Macalester College) hit a team-best .408 and tallied four homers. Graham Wolff (Wittenberg) compiled a .338 batting average in his sophomore season and added 14 RBIs. Ross Donnan (Monmouth) not only received all-conference accolades he also was named to Third Team All-Central Region after hitting .348 and slugging .561 in his junior season. Donnan totaled 35 RBIs, five home runs and 11 doubles. Theses three will look to continue their steller play in a Ranchers' uniform.

 

"I think we are going to good it is going to be a fun summer. We are playing against some very good teams, which will only be beneficial to our growth as a team. I cant wait to get out there and play the game I love with some great players and great friends," said Touhy.

 

Thursday's opener will mark the beginning of a stretch where the Ranchers will play six games in five days.