5.16 Game Preview
SLAMMERS TAKE ON NEWCOMERSÂ
DIRTY MIKE AND THE BOYS
ARLINGTON HEIGHTS - The Oakton Slammers will will take on the expansion team Dirty Mike and the Boys for the first time in franchise history. The game has a 6:30pm scheduled first pitch.
The Slammers fell in their opener against Slug N' Chug with a final score of 16-9. The team led 3-2 after the first inning and fell behind 8-5 in the fourth, before imploding in the fifth.
"Yep, we had one of those innings where we just decided, 'You know what? We just don't want to play this inning,'" Director of Player Development Nick Sobieszczyk stated. "It happens."
While originally believed to be an expansion team, Slug N' Chug was actually in a higher league last season before being relegated to the Slammers' level.
Manager Zach Wulbert said, "I think that experience really got to us. They started teeing up and playing some small ball. The wet conditions didn't help, either."
The Slammers will look to right the ship against another new team to the league, Dirty Mike and the Boys. The team only has two games until the bye week at the end of May.
TEAM LEADER: Third Baseman Mike Leahy had a great performance in the first game of the season, going 3-4 with two doubles and some nice defensive plays at third. The play earned him Money Man of the Game honors, and he hopes to build on that at the top of the order.
WITH A WIN: Dirty Mike and the Boys would advance to 1-0, earning their first win in franchise history.
The Slammers would advance to 1-1, earning their fourth win in franchise history. They would also be 1-0 against a team for the third time ever, after starting 1-0 against the Hammerhogs in 2021 and against Foul, No Catch in 2023.
In addition, the 1-1 start would mark the first time in franchise history the Slammers would be at the .500 mark after the first game of the season.
SUPERHERO NIGHT: The Slammers are inviting all fans to participate in Superhero Night by dressing in their superhero gear! Follow @oaktonslammers on Instagram and Twitter for more.
