THUNDER BAY – SPORTS – A beautiful night for baseball at the Port Arthur Stadium as the Thunder Bay Border Cats took on the La Crosse Loggers. The weather at the start of the game was a balmy 22c with a slight breeze from the south.
The Cats fell behind in the first inning as #2 C. Jefferis hit a ground rule double on a hit that bounced over the left field wall.
The Loggers grabbed two runs in the second inning giving them a 3-0 lead.
The Border Cats got into scoring position as #8 and #15 advanced to second and third base following a wild pitch with no one out in the bottom of the second inning. #24 for the Cats facing a full count hit a single to centre field that allowed #8 to score. #24 then stole second base following some confusion on the part of the Loggers.
Thomas Grilli the shortstop came to the plate with runners on second and third. Facing a full count, Grilli hit a single to load the bases – still no outs in the second.
Alexander Hernandez, hit into a double play, with a hit to the second baseman. The Cats have #24 Larson on third with #19 Seamons at the plate who struck out.
The Cats climbed back into the game scoring two runs.
After taking down the Loggers in the top of the third, the Cats took the lead on a home run that carried 388 feet over the left field wall by #20 Jake Engel who drove home Anthony Galati to take a 4-3 lead.
#15 Conor Allard came to the plate with #9 on first and one out. Connor took two mighty swings for strikes before hitting a bouncing ball to the third baseman that led to the second out.
#24 Jordan Larson came to the plate, carrying a .289 batting average. Larson was walked to first base putting runners on first and second with two outs as #5 Thomas Grilli batting .286 came to the plate. Grilli hit a bouncing hit to right field that brought home a run bringing his RBi number to 8 for the season.
That brought Alexander Hernandez batting .240 to the plate with two out. The inning came to an end with Grilli caught trying to steal second base. However, the Cats scored three runs to take a 5-3 lead.
The fourth inning saw no scoring.
The fifth inning and sixth were scoreless.
Starting the seventh inning #38 Carlos Lequerica comes in to sub for Border Cats starting pitcher Mark Anderson. Lequerica threw 100 pitches in total was able to hold the Loggers to five hits.
#5 for the Loggers hit a stand up double with a looping hit to right centre field. Cody Jefferies hit to left field and was caught by Ryne Edmunson.
The Loggers brought #9 Jacob Little in to pitch subbing for Mason McMahon who allowed six hits by the Border Cats through six full innings.
There were no runs in the Cat’s seventh, and the inning ended as Gallati drove a hard hit right to the second baseman.
The Loggers threatened in the top of the eighth following a wild pitch that advanced #22 TJ Byrd to third base with two out. However, Cole Elvis hit a ball into the dirt and was an easy out to finish the inning leaving Bryd on base.
The Border Cats won with solid pitching and fielding.
Attendance was 561 dedicated fans.
