Saints at ThunderHeads Recap

The Saints are down in the Lone Star State for a 9 game road trip against Amarillo, Laredo, and Grand Prairie. The trip opened up Tuesday night in Amarillo with the Saints taking their first loss of the season 8-3 in front of 2,100 fans at ThunderHeads Stadium in Amarillo.
The ThunderHeads would take a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the 2nd on an RBI Single by Taylor Smart. They would bring the game to 5-1 in the 6th on a Juan Martinez two-run home run. The Saints would try to rally back with an RBI single by Sam Maus and an RBI double by Ian Gac. However the ThunderHeads would cap it off in the bottom of the 7th with 3 runs to make it 8-3. Amarillo starter Matt Larkins would get the win pitching 5 innings giving up no runs on 3 hits with 4 walks and 5 strikeouts. Pedro Hernandez would take the Saints first loss of the year pitching 6 innings giving up 5 runs on 7 hits with 4 strikeouts.
However the fortunes would turn the next night as the Saints would crush Amarillo 10-1 in front of a meager turnout of 411 fans. St. Paul came out strong leading 6-1 after 2 innings and never looked back. It would be 7-1 in the 6th, in the 8th Sam Maus would drive in an RBI single to make it 8-1 while Angelo Songco was walked with the bases loaded to have Alonzo Harris score making it 9-1. It would finish off in the 9th with Sam Maus driving in Steve Nikorak on an RBI single. Crenshaw took the win (2-0) going a strong 7 innings pitched giving up 1 run on 6 hits and striking out 4. Tanner took the loss for Amarillo giving up 6 runs on 6 hits walking 1 and striking out 2.
The series would end on Thursday night in Amarillo with another paltry crowd of just 311 seeing this one. Amarillo started off with 2 runs in the bottom of the first but St. Paul came back with 2 of their own to tie it in the 4th. After 9 the game was tied at 4 runs a piece and with nothing scored in the 10th it went to the 11th utilizing the American Association's new extra inning rule. The Saints put together 4 runs in the 11th to win the game 8-4 and take the series 2-1. Reliever Ryan Rodebaugh who pitched the final 2 innings took the win for St. Paul while Arrebato pitched the final 2 innings for Amarillo took the loss.
St. Paul is now 6-1 through 7 games leading the North Division by 2 games over Sioux Falls. The Saints travel to Uni-Trade Stadium in Laredo to take on the Lemurs starting tonight and ending Sunday. First pitch is scheduled for 7:30PM tonight and tomorrow, while Sunday is scheduled for 6:00PM. You can catch the game on 1220 KLBB radio or watch it on americanassociationbaseball.tv. My next series recap will be on Sunday night/early Monday after the series with Laredo. Remember Fun Is Good and GO SAINTS!

Saints vs RedHawks Series Wrap Up

Again sorry for the late post everyone I had computer issues, anyway on to the wrap up of the Saints first ever series in CHS Field. The Saints beat the RedHawks 8-7 on opening night on May 22nd. On Friday the 23rd the Saints would take on Fargo-Moorhead, they were leading 2-1 in the 3rd inning Phillips knocked in a 2 out RBI single to make the game 3-1. Songco had a great night for the Saints going 3-4 with 4 RBI's. Starting pitcher Dustin Crenshaw had a strong 6 innings of play retiring the side 1-2-3 in 5 of the 6 innings and finishing with 1 run on 3 hits and striking out 3. A 9-2 win in front of 8,129 put the Saints up to 2-0. Sneed took the W with a solid 6 innings pitched giving up 1 run on 3 hits with 2 walks and 3 strikeouts. Kirk took the loss for Fargo giving up 3 runs on 3 hits with a whopping 5 walks and 6 strikeouts in only 5 and 2/3 innings.
On Saturday night a crowd of 7,850 would show up to watch game 3 of this 4 game series. The game would remain scoreless until the 6th inning when Joe Dunigan would single to centerfield to bring in Salerno from 3rd, however that would be the only run of the night for Fargo as the Saints would crush F-M for the 3rd straight night with a 6-1 victory that started off with 4 runs in the bottom of the 6th inning and capped off with 2 runs in the bottom of the 8th.
On Sunday evening the rain couldn't stop the Saints from piling on runs against the RedHawks. They came out firing on all cylinders with 2 runs in the 1st, 1 in the 3rd, 4 in the 5th, 1 in the 6th, and capping it off with 4 in the 8th inning. Shields would take the win on Sunday pitching 5 innings giving up 2 runs on 6 hits and striking out 5, while Blough would take the loss for F-M giving up 7 runs on 7 hits in 4 and 1/3 innings pitched.
The Saints opened up their brand new ballpark 4-0, which tied their 4-0 opening record at Midway Stadium in their inaugural season in 1993 which was capped off with a Northern League Championship. A total attendance of 31,764 fans made their way out to CHS Field on opening weekend. They'll be on the road from Tuesday May 26th through Wednesday June 3rd. They play the Amarillo Thunderheads the 26th-28th, the Laredo Lemurs 29th-31st, and the Grand Prairie AirHogs June 1st-3rd. The Saints will be back at home for a 6 game homestand when they take on the Sioux Falls Canaries June 5th-7th and the Joplin Blasters June 8th-10th.
I'll be back with a new post after each series and a special recap on the entire Texas Roadtrip. Remember 2 things Fun Is Good and GO SAINTS!

Saints vs RedHawks May 21st

Sorry for the super late post everyone I didn't get home until 1:30 AM on Friday after the home opener. Anyway on to the ballpark. CHS Field in St. Paul is the brand new home of the Saints, from the street it blends in very well with the rest of Lowertown St. Paul, the entire ballpark except for the club/suite level is at or below ground level so from the main gate you enter directly onto the concourse. The beautiful view and + the 360 degree concourse make this my personal favorite ballpark I have ever been too, I would recommend that if you ever have the opportunity to get to CHS Field and see the Saints. On to the opening night game it was Hernandez on the mound for the Saints and Mann taking the nod for the RedHawks. Mann would only see 4 innings of service for the RedHawks on Thursday night giving up 6 runs (all earned) on 8 hits, which included giving up the first home run in ballpark history to Saints Catcher Vinny DiFazio in the 4th, with 1 walk and 2 strikeouts. Hernandez on the other hand saw 5 strong innings of action giving up 5 runs (3 earned) on 6 hits with 3 strikeouts and no walks. In the middle of the game  Joe Dunigan hit 2 home runs on 2 consecutive at bats in 2 straight innings (6/7). At the end of the night it was the Saints who took home an 8-7 win in the first game. With Reliever Dylan Chavez taking the W for the Saints, Michael Noteware took the loss for the RedHawks, and Alan Oaks got the Save. Check out my pictures from that night at  http://s394.photobucket.com/user/dstroyer13/library/Saints%20Baseball%202015/Saints%20vs%20RedHawks%20May%2021st%202015?sort=3&page=1. 

I'll be back on Sunday Night/Monday Morning with highlights from the rest of the series.

On the way to the Ballpark!

Currently on the Green Line of the Metro Transit Light Rail heading to CHS Field! Pictures and a full update, recap of the game and review of the ballpark will be posted later tonight!

WELCOME!!

Hello Everyone, My name is Chris Norling and this is my first post on my first blog. SAINTSball will cover my hometown and favorite independent club the St. Paul Saints, their league the American Association of Independent Professional Baseball, and Can-Am League which plays inter-league with the AAIPB. Tomorrow I will have my first full set of posts with the St. Paul Saints home opener and the official opening of CHS Field in Lowertown St. Paul. I'll be there and you can catch me walking around the ballpark prior to the game shooting pictures and in the Standing Room Only section tomorrow night. And remember, LET'S GO SAINTS!