This week the Chiefs will travel north for eight games in the state of Wisconsin. The first four will be in Beloit Monday-Thursday against the Beloit Snappers (Milwaukee Brewers affiliate). In 2003, the Chiefs were 3-9 against Beloit including a 3-5 mark at Pohlman Field. The Snappers lost in the Midwest League Championship last September. Beloit went 1-2 over the weekend against Quad Cities in the first series of the season.

On top of the excitement surrounding the April 20th home opener of the Peoria Chiefs, the club has announced several opening week promotions that promise to fill the stadium with enthusiastic fans. From Kids Club Tuesdays to Family Days Sundays, the Chiefs are dedicated to providing their fans with an enjoyable experience when visiting O’Brien Field.

With ten players returning, manager Joe Cunningham knows there will be higher expectations for the 2004 version of the Peoria Chiefs. And he wouldn’t have it any other way.
"We have a lot of guys coming back,” Cunningham commented. “With the experience we have on this roster there is no reason to think we shouldn't be in the race this season. I'm excited about it and so are the guys who are back with me."
Cunningham has been a manager in 10 of his 15 seasons as an instructor in the Cardinals’ system and will manage at Peoria for his second-straight season. Cunningham’s first season with the Chiefs was in 1997, as he led them to a 70-69 record. In 2003, he skippered the Chiefs to a 65-73 record and enters the 2004 season 54 wins shy of Steve Roadcap’s franchise record 189 wins.

John Santor is returning to start his second straight season in Peoria. The first baseman batted .268 in 2003 with nine home runs, 28 doubles and 71 RBI. He was named a starter for the Midwest League All-Star team and doubled home two runs in the 1st inning. Santor hit .317 with 35 RBI in the first half of the season. He set a Chiefs franchise record and tied a MWL record with four doubles at Battle Creek on June 6th.

The Peoria Chiefs dropped two of three to the Cedar Rapids Kernels to start the 2004 regular season. The opener was lost in the 11th inning in heart breaking form as the Chiefs lost two different leads during the game. The bats came to life on Friday as the Chiefs hammered two home runs for their first win of the season. But the bats were silenced on Saturday by three Kernels pitchers as the Chiefs were shutout for the first time since last August.

Cedar Rapids, IA – Peoria Chiefs’ starter Jordan Pals held the Kernels to only two runs in six innings while Cody Haerther and Tyler Parker provided the offense as the Chiefs defeated the Cedar Rapids Kernels 7-2 Friday night at Veterans Memorial Stadium.

The Chiefs got out to an early lead in the second inning, scoring two runs on three hits off Kernels’ starter Kevin Jepsen (0-1).  Matt Dryer doubled down the left field line and was brought home on a Matt Pagnozzi RBI double. Milko Jaramillo then singled to right to bring home Pagnozzi for a 2-0 Chiefs lead.

The Kernels cut the lead to...