The Greatest Kaneland Baseball Game Ever

It was the greatest Kaneland Baseball game ever and it took place at Cougar (Elfstrom) Stadium against the Yorkville Foxes on May 30, 1999.

Boy, if you like baseball, you had to like this game. It had everything, including two endings. It was a absolutely perfect spring evening at Cougar (Elfstrom) Stadium. As the largest crowd of the year to came out to see two good ball teams play in the nicest ball park in the area.

Kaneland jumped off to a quick 3-0 lead in the first inning with back-to-back-to-back singles by Dave Issel, Shaun Wenz and Mike Balensiefen, followed by a 2-RBI double by Colin Baumgartner.

But the Foxes got two back in the second as starter Wenz got relieved by Baumgartner. Baumgartner who was suppose to pitch just two innings having worked two days ago, stayed in the rest of the way as he kept the Yorkville batters off balance.

The Knights got the two runs back in the third on back-to-back triples by Wenz and Balensiefen, but Yorkville kept pecking away and by the time the seventh and final inning arrived the Knights lead by just one, 7-6.

And that is when a terrific ball game turned into a unbelievable game.

In the top of the seventh Yorkville had a runner on second base due to a Kaneland error and two men out. Baumgartner just one out away from a win had a 0-2 count the batter, Joe Podschweit. On the next pitch Podschweit swung and missed a Bamgartner curve ball to strike out and end the game - but Balensiefen, who has to be a all-conference if not a all-area catcher, dropped the ball and Podschweit took off for first base.

All Balensiefen had to do was throw the ball to Ron Easto at first base and the game was over, (again!). But his throw sailed on him - over the head of Easto - and Podschweit ended up on second base. On the play the runner from second scored and the game was tied!

Tim Zaspal the Yorkville pitcher then took advantage of the situation and singled Podschweit in and the Foxes had a 7-6, going into the bottom of the inning.

Could the Knights recover?

In the bottom of the inning lead off batter Dave Issel struck out. But with one out, Shaun Wenz came to plate hitting a lofty .593 with two hits in his previous three at bats. He walked. Then Balensiefen hitting .485 and 3-for-3 on the day walked. Then Baumgartner 1-for-2, walked. All on 3-2 counts.

So with bases loaded, trailing 7-6 and one out, pinch hitter Aaron Berkland came to the plate. He fouled back the first pitch.

Then on the next pitch, with Zaspal winding up, Wenz took off from third base - HE WAS STEALING HOME! The pitch and Wenz arrived at the same time.

SAFE!

HE HAD STOLEN HOME! The stadium erupted as the team bounced out of the dug out. GAME TIED 7-7. WOW!!

With runners still at first and second, Berkland proceeded to strike out on the next pitch.

With two out, Senior Kurt Oland stepped to the plate and on the second pitch calmly whacked a line drive double into right field easily scoring Balensiefen from second.

The Knights win 8-7!

Unbelievable.

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