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Blue Anchors Top Thunder Bay 14-9

July 18, 2013 - Northwoods League (Northwoods)
Alexandria Blue Anchors News Release


Alexandria, Minn. - The Alexandria Blue Anchors beat the Thunder Bay Border Cats Wednesday night 14-9 at Knute Nelson Memorial Park. Alexandria is 6-8 in the second half and 16-32 on the year.

The Border Cats were first on the board in the top of the first against Hunter Newman. Ty Stetson walked to start the game and went to second on a Dylan Becker base hit. Tyler Duplantis singled to score Stetson and give the Border Cats a 1-0 lead. Jason Vosler drew a walk to load the bases and a sacrifice fly by Kyle Hann brought home Becker making the score 2-0.

Georgie Salem created a run himself in the first against Jordan Church. He doubled to start the game and eventually came around to score on a passed ball to cut the deficit to 2-1.

In the third, the Anchors gained the lead. With one out, Ryan Blanchard was hit by a pitch and stole second base. Keegan Dale drove home Blanchard with a single to tie the game at two. Dalton Leuschke walked to put two on for Salem who singled, scoring Dale and giving Alexandria a 3-2 lead.

The lead didn't last long, however. Stetson again started the third inning with a walk and Becker went deep to right field putting Thunder Bay ahead 4-3.

Newman ran into trouble again in the fourth. Cory Kay doubled to lead things off and moved to third on a groundout. With two outs in the inning, Joey Hawkins went out to center extending the Border Cats lead to 6-3.

The Blue Anchors offense awoke again in the fifth. Andrew Sohn walked with one out and went to second on a single by Albert Baur. Sohn stole third to put runners on the corners and with two outs in the inning, Ryan Blanchard hit a three-run home run to tie the game at six. Derec Olson came in relief of Church and Michael Barash greated him with a single. A double by Dale put Barash at third and another passed ball by Dylan Goodwin brought home Barash to put the Anchors ahead 7-6. Leuschke doubled into left-center to score Dale and at the end of the inning, Alexandria led 8-6.

Scott Sanderson came in to pitch the sixth and hit Kay and Alex Bautista to start the inning. A fielder's choice put both runners in scoring position and a sacrfice fly by Hawkins put Thunder Bay within one.

The Anchors got the run back though in the bottom of the inning. Sohn and Baur each hit back-to-back doubles against Cameron Wood and Sohn scored to make the score 9-6.

In the top of the seventh, things got interesting against Anchor pitcher Andy Johnson. He hit Becker to start the inning and walks to Duplantis and Vosler loaded the bases with no outs. Hann hit a sacrifice fly to bring home Becker, cutting the Anchors' lead to 9-7. A strikeout on Kay gave Johnson two outs in the inning and while Vosler attempted to steal second, batters interference by Kay gave Alexandria three outs in the inning.

Benches cleared twice in the bottom of the seventh after the Border Cats catcher, Goodwin, bumped the Anchors hitter, Salem, trying to pick Leuschke off first base. The manager for Thunder Bay was ejected as he argued the inning before that Kay didn't really commit batters interference. Then Wood threw a pitch behind Salem and the teams came out of their dugouts again and this time, Wood was ejected as well.

After the hoopla, the Anchors added on to their lead against Daniel Stoney in the eighth. Sohn singled with one out and moved to second on a Baur base hit. Tim Cusick walked to load the bases after Blanchard struck out for the second out, a passed ball scored Sohn. Barash eventually drew a walk to load the bases again and Dale was hit by a pitch to plate Baur. Another passed ball brought home Cusick and Leuschke drew a walk as well. With Salem up, the third passed ball of the inning scored Barash to give Alexandria a 14-8 advantage.

Jose Cardona came in to finish the game and allowed a solo homer to Vosler but he finished out the 14-9 Blue Anchor victory.

Newman pitched four innings and gave up six runs on six hits, three walks and three punch outs. Taylor Simpson (2-2) got the win as he pitched a perfect fifth. In one inning of work, Sanderson gave up a run on two hit by pitches. Johnson finished his day allowing one run on two walk and a hit by pitch with one strikeout. Brandon Johnson wiggled out of a jam in the eight but didn't allow a run on two hits. Cardona gave up one run on one hit.

Minnesota Baseball Academy Player of the Game - Albert Baur (DH) - After hitting a walk-off grand slam the night before, Baur picks up the player of the game honor for the second night in a row. He finished the night with three hits in four at bats with two runs scored and two RBI.

Notes: This is the Blue Anchors second three game winning streak of 2013...Every Alexandria hitter reached base safely via hit or walk...Leuschke tied a season-high with three hits...Dale has a seven-game hitting streak while Sohn now has a six-game streak...The Anchors offense again leads the Northwoods in team batting with a .287 average...Thursday night, the Blue Anchors go for the sweep of Thunder Bay and if it is completed, fans will receive a coupon for a free six inch sub from Subway with the purchase of a six inch sandwich and beverage...Before Thursday's game, fans can enjoy dollar food and beverages starting at 6:00 with the purchase of a ticket...On the mound is Eldon Evans (1-1, 8.43)...The game, starting at 7:05 p.m., can be seen live at www.youtube.com/user/NorthwoodsLeague.

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