Joliet, Ill. – June 1, 2021 – As some say all good things must come to an end, the Joliet Generals’ undefeated start to the season ended four games into summer.
After taking both games of their doubleheader matchup Sunday, the Generals (3-1) lost 9-2 to the Crestwood Panthers (3-2) Wednesday night at Lee Pfund Stadium.
“It’s a long season,” manager Joe Silva said “We play the same team tomorrow night and we need to come out and compete, [It is] very simple.”
Joliet never led in Wednesday’s loss, and they were down 1-0 early after Panthers’ second baseman Donovan Noble (South Suburban / Chicago, Ill.) was hit by a Joey Teschke (MSOE / Elgin, Ill.) fastball on the first pitch of the game. Noble scored to give the Panthers an early 1-0 lead. He also reached base three times for the Panthers.
Teschke started his first game on the mound as a General Wednesday. He went two innings, giving up two hits and allowing four runs (two earned). The lefties Drake Berman (Benedictine / Wauconda, Ill.) and Blake Schallenbarger (Rockford / Woodstock, Ill.) ate up multiple innings in relief for the Generals.
Defensively, the Generals flashed the leather on multiple occasions. Third baseman Ryan Kiolbassa (Lake Land / Hoffman Estates, Ill.) and shortstop Nate Gehrke (Lake Land / Joliet, Ill.) made athletic plays at their positions. Right fielder Christian Jacob (Concordia-Chicago / Scottsdale, Ariz.) robbed Panthers’ designated hitter Dino Biggers (Illinois Wesleyan / Naperville, Ill.) of an extra base hit when he fully extended to make a diving catch down the line.
Ryne Wiederer (St. Xavier / Hoffman Estates, Ill.) had the lone RBI base hit for Joliet on a hard hit single that scored Gehrke. Michael Gould (Maryville / Naperville, Ill.) also walked in a run. Gehrke went 3-for-4 with two runs scored in a solid performance.
What’s Next
The Generals and Panthers will meet again tomorrow at Irving Park in Hammond, Ind. for the Generals first road test of the season. First pitch is scheduled for 5:05 p.m. on Joliet Generals Facebook Live.