There were hopes – high hopes one has to imagine – that the Normal CornBelters would find a way into the Frontier League playoffs. But the team’s last road trip proved difficult to make that a reality as they lost 2-out of-3 at Evansville, who clinched a playoff spot, and followed that with losing two more at River City before returning home for their final home series of the season.
Before the season ends, the CornBelters got three last games hosting Evansville. The Otters will pay their last visit of the season to The Corn Crib for a three-game series Tuesday through Thursday, Aug. 30, 31, and Sept. 1. Normal will wrap up their season at home against the Florence Freedom Friday through Sunday. Friday’s game will start at 6:35p.m. Sunday’s Fan Appreciation Day game will start at 4:35p.m.
Because Illinois State University Redbirds will play their first home game of the season against non-conference foe Valparaiso on Saturday at Hancock Stadium at 6p.m., the CornBelters have moved their game that day to 1p.m. ISU Football tickets will also be available for purchase during the CornBelters home stand.
When I interviewed CornBelters shortstop Santiago Chirino after it was announced he would be part of July’s Frontier League All-Star Game at Florence, Ky., representing Normal on the league’s West Division team, I also took time to get an assessment from him of how the 4th season CornBelters veteran was feeling as the second half of the season was about to start.
What he said then would, I believe, indicate how the team was assessing things as the season has begun to wind down. “Brooks was putting things together and I think we’re going to be pretty good,” the 25-year-old native of Punto Fijo, Venezuela told me, explaining how he thought things would go for the team the second half of the season.
That assembly to get the players Carey wanted took a couple of reboots in terms of pitching. I got the impression from my conversations with him that Carey thought he would only have to reboot the team once after they got off on a start which included a 7-game losing streak at the beginning of the season.
That rebooting process includes bringing in new pitchers who must adjust to the ‘Belters’ playing system. As a result of doing that, Chirino explained, established infielders and outfielders must, in turn, adjust to the new pitcher’s style so they can work as a group when playing defense. “That takes work,” Chirino said of what results when it goes well as the fans watch it in action, coming across looking almost effortless.
“We all have to be on the same page, the pitchers and the infielders and outfielders, to win,” Chirino said.
Fans could probably tell the ‘Belters have been on the same page throughout the second half of the season as they took their shot toward making the playoffs.
Saying “wait ‘til next year” leaves a sour taste in the mouths of players on teams who have come as close as Normal has. But they were facing improving foes like Evansville and always strong contenders like River City.
Carey will be back next year, as will many of the players he had this season when spring training rolls around. I am sure Carey has some off-season trips to tryouts to scout new talent as well. He has done that in the past. We will happily welcome the CornBelters back to The Corn Crib to entertain and thrill us again then. But for now, they deserve our appreciation and our thanks for the season we had.