THUNDER BAY – SPORTS – The Thunder Bay Border Cats hosted the Waterloo Bucks Friday night. While there was some concern early in the evening that the local thundergods might interfere, the game opened with 21c on the field and bright sunshine.
The Cats started the first inning with J. Moran on the mound with solid pitching for three up – three down. The streak continued through the second inning again three up – three down.
In the Cats half of the second, Jordan Larsen got off a loping hit to left field that dropped in play and gave him a hit. However, the inning ended with Larson left on second base.
The Cats got it going in the bottom of the third but left two runners on base.
It got exciting in the top of the fifth inning. The Bucks hit into a double play to end the inning with fantastic fielding from the Cats.
#39 from the Bucks, Kevin Blum had a clean steal of second base. He was called out when Jake Christianson hit to the Cats’ third baseman Larson who launched a throw to first and Hernandez fired the ball back to third to get Blum out to end the inning.
The Waterloo Bucks got on the scoreboard in the top of the sixth after a mishandled pitch that let a run score.
With two out, the Bucks loaded the bases bringing Kevin Blum to the plate, batting 183. The Cats escaped the danger zone striking him out.
The Cats changed pitcher to Thunder Bay’s Cooper Lamke.
Lamke struggled four walks, a home run. #16 for the Bucks blasted a home run off the right-field fence that was almost caught by the fielder.
The Bucks followed the homer with another walk, and then a bit of a spree of walks, leading to two runs scoring.
The seventh inning was the longest inning for the home team with five runs scoring.
The flurry of runs quieted the crowd down at Port Arthur Stadium.
However, in the bottom of the eighth inning, the Border Cats came alive after a stand-up double by Ryne Edmunson drove in three runs to make the score 8-4.
Then Noah Reed advanced to 1st on a walk and #9 Ryne Edmondson advances to 3rd on a wild pitch.
With two out the Bucks, the manager headed out to the mount change pitchers. #23 for the Bucks will try to put out the spark that the Cats ignited.
Heading into the top of the ninth inning the Bucks are led by four runs.
Seeking to take down the Bucks in the ninth inning the Cats sent Nate Soriano replacing Joe Jimenez.
Soriano pitched the Cats through a scoreless inning.
Final Score – 8-4.
The Border Cats take on the Duluth Huskies with an early 6:05 start on Saturday evening at Port Arthur Stadium working to get back in the win column.
