Corn Dogs Blow Out Miracle, 18-2, Season Record Now 20-9

By Noel Fary

The Lake County Corn Dogs stomped the Elkhart County Miracle 18-2 on Friday in a game that the Corn Dogs took hold of from the very start and displayed an even showcase of shutdown defense and explosive offense.

Facing off against Miracle starter Ethan Lengfelder, who threw a no-hitter against the Corn Dogs, earlier in the season, the Corn Dogs wasted no time getting the bats started.

Check out the box score from the game.

Through four hits and three walks, the Corn Dogs put up a five spot in the top of the first, continuing momentum from Thursday’s victory against the Miracle and immediately made the game lopsided.

Sean Kasper received his first start of the season and worked his way out of trouble in the bottom of the first, finishing the day with a successful introduction to a starting role. Through four innings, Kasper allowed four hits, two runs, one earned run, and collected six strikeouts.

Headed into the top of the second, the Corn Dogs did not take their feet off the gas, putting up a second straight five-run inning and working through the batting order completely for the second time. Doug Loden crushed a ball past the right field wall that scored three and Zach Zychowski hammered a double to cap off the scoring.

With the lead sitting comfortably at 10-2, the Corn Dogs slowed down on offense, and allowed their stellar defensive performance to take them the rest of the way. That is, until the eighth inning, as seven more runs found their way onto the board after one of the best strings of offense the Corn Dogs compiled all season. Owen Winters collected his fifth RBI and Josh Moore, Corn Dogs newcomer, grabbed an RBI off a single to right field.

With a comfortable lead at 14-2, Ranko Stevanovic was not finished. He came up to bat with the bases loaded and delivered in a way no Corn Dogs player in the team’s short history has been able to. With a rocket over the right field wall, Stevanovic successfully hit the team’s first-ever grand slam and earned himself the Macron Player of the Game.

While putting 18 runs up on offense is a recipe for success, Corn Dogs relief pitching also came through, with Dylan Matusak throwing four scoreless innings with no hits, no walks, and five strikeouts.

Upcoming games

Following an almost perfect game, the first-place Corn Dogs look ahead to Sunday when they travel to Griffith to take on the Generals.

The Corn Dogs are back home Tuesday and Wednesday, travel to Elkhart County on Thursday, and return for a three-game home stand Friday, Saturday and Sunday.