Manaea pitches no-hitter; Bombers beat Nashville 6-1

July 10, 2011 – The Dubois County Bombers returned home Sunday after splitting a four-game road trip with DeKalb County and Danville. Sunday evening the Bombers were glad to host many groups, including Buffalo Run, the Huntingburg Girls Softball League, and the champion Tigers from Huntingburg Little League. Everyone got to see a great game, as the Bombers hit the ball well and pitcher Sean Manaea nearly hurled a no-hitter. These contributions led to a 6-1 Bombers win over the division leading Nashville Outlaws.

Sean Manaea (Indiana State) was untouchable Sunday, and was cruising from the moment his cleats hit the dirt. Before the fans knew it, he had thrown five hitless innings…then six…and then seven. When Manaea took the hill in the eighth, it was apparent that he may go the distance. However, Nashville’s Jesse Tierney lifted a soft liner into shallow right field that looked like it would end Manaea’s no-hit bid. Dubois County right fielder T.J. Thomas got a great jump on the ball, and with a picturesque dive to his right the no-hitter was still on. Manaea would take the mound to start the ninth, but after an initial walk, the Outlaws’ Craig Massey doubled down the right field line, just out of first baseman Jamie Skagerlind’s reach. Manaea was then lifted in favor of left-handed reliever Jordan Eich, and finished the night with one hit in eight innings. He also struck out seven and did allow one earned run, which was after a sacrifice fly scored Massey succeeding his outing.

Dubois County took the lead in the third on an RBI single by third baseman Joe Perez (Hofstra). His college teammate, Danny Poma, then also singled home a run to make it 2-0 Bombers. The offense would knock in another run in the fourth to make it 3-0.

The seventh inning was the difference maker tonight, as the offense pounced to put the game out of reach. Jamie Skagerlind, Nick Stoia, and Grant Zawadzki led off the inning with three consecutive singles to right field, with Skagerlind (who went 3-for-3 tonight) scoring on the third one. Then catcher Brian Norwood continued the rally with a two-RBI single, yet again to right field, to take the margin to 6-0 in favor of Dubois County.

Jordan Eich shut down the Outlaws in the ninth to give the Bombers the 6-1 victory, moving them to 3-3 in the second half of the Prospect League season. Nashville moves to 4-2 and tied for the lead in the Western Division with the Hannibal Cavemen. The Bombers are now just one game out of first place.

The next home game at League Stadium will be following the All-Star break on Friday, July 15th. Dubois County will be taking on the West Virginia Miners at 7:15 pm EDT. Come out and root on the Bombers to continue their winning ways!