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Anchors drop doubleheader to Stingers

July 30, 2015 - Northwoods League (Northwoods)
Alexandria Blue Anchors News Release


Alexandria, Minn. - The Alexandria Blue Anchors dropped a double header to the Willmar Stingers in a home-and-away doubleheader by scores of 7-6 in game one and 7-4 in game two. The Anchors are now 13-14 in the second half and 25-37 on the season.

Game 1

The Stingers got on the board against Graylon Brown in the first when Dan Motl hit the first pitch of the game out to centerfield for a 1-0 lead.

Willmar had two runners in scoring position in the third with two outs. A wild pitch from Brown allowed Reagan Fowler to score and put the Stingers ahead 2-0.

The lead grew even more for Willmar in the fourth against George Faue. Justin Thaxton made it to second on an error to lead off the frame and Motl drew a one-out walk. Both runners pulled off a double steal and a throwing error by the catcher, Matt Duce, allowed Thaxton to score and put Motl at third. Following another walk, Reagan Fowler reached on a fielder's choice scoring Motl making the score 4-0.

The Anchors drew close in their half of the fourth. Josh Merrigan reached on an error and Ricky Sanchez walked. An error off the bat of Trooper Reynolds loaded the bases with no outs. A wild pitch moved all the runners up a base and Merrigan scored the first Alexandria run. Duce drove in Sanchez with a groundout for the second run of the day for the Anchors. Nehwon Norkeh walked to put runners on the corners. Norkeh got in a rundown between first and second on a stolen base attempt and Duce came in before Norkeh was retired cutting the deficit to one run, 4-3.

Troy Dixon led off the fifth with a single against Faue and he moved to second on a walk to Luke Becker. After a strikeout, Thaxton singled to load the bases. Billy Quirke hit a sacrifice fly scoring Dixon and Motl followed with a base hit to score Becker and make the score 6-3.

Alexandria answered in the bottom of the fifth. Steve Sada singled and went to second on a stole base and third on a wild pitch. Dane Hutcheon singled him home to make the score 6-4.

The sixth inning did not go any better for the Blue Anchor pitching staff. With the bases loaded and just one out, Tyler Leffler walked bringing in Ky Parrot and the Stingers led 7-4.

The Blue Anchors put together one last rally in the sixth. Duce and Norkeh singled to open the frame and Matt Hopfner reached on a fielder's choice but an error by the second baseman allowed Duce to score. With two outs, Hutcheon got another RBI single plating Norkeh giving a final score of 7-6.

Brown (2-4) got the loss and he finished the afternoon with three innings pitched and two runs allowed on five hits and two walks with three strikeouts. Faue pitched 1.2 innings giving up four runs (two earned) on four hits and three walks with a strikeout. Ramos lasted 1.1 innings allowing a run on two hits and two walks and one strikeout. Austin Cornish threw two scoreless walking four and punching out two. Kody Knause pitched a perfect ninth.

Game 2

Willmar was first to score in the second inning against Tyler Hasper. Troy Dixon singled to and Lucas Tancas walked to start the inning. A wild pitch moved both runners into scoring position and a single from Tyler Leffler singled home Dixon. An error by Hasper allowed Tancas to come in and it moved Leffler to third. Sean Beesley and Dan Motl both walked to load the bases for Storm Wilson. He lifted a fly ball to plate Leffler and make the score 3-0.

The Blue Anchors got on the board in the fourth. Matt Hopfner singled with one out and went to second on Kyle Richardson's single. Both runners advanced a base on a wild pitch and after the second out was recorded, Steve Sada reached on an error allowing Hopfner to score and make the score 3-1.

The bottom of the fourth brought more good fortune for the Stingers. Motl was hit by a pitch with one out and came in on a double by Wilson. A groundout moved Wilson to third and he came in on Reagan Fowler's single to right field extending their lead to 5-1.

Dane Hutcheon singled to start the fifth inning and he went to second on Ricky Sanchez's one-out base hit. A single by Trooper Reynolds loaded the bases and a Hutcheon scored on a passed ball and the score was 5-1.

Beesley singled to start the sixth and he stole a base. A groundout moved Beesley to third and he scored on a fielder's choice off the bat of Wilson scored him and it was 6-1 after six complete innings.

After a move to the bullpen for the Stingers, Sanchez was hit by a pitch and he was pinch run for with Anthony Mrosla. Reynolds hit a double putting two in scoring position. After two outs and a walk, the bases were loaded for Ben Allen who walked bringing home Mrosla. Sada hit an infield single scoring Reynolds closing the gap to 6-4.

Willmar added an insurance run in the eighth. Leffler doubled and went to third on Beesley's single to left. A sacrifice fly by Motl made the score 7-4.

Hasper took the loss pitching two innings giving up three runs, two earned, on two hits and five walks with two strikeouts. Ryan Froom threw two frames surrendering two runs on a couple of hits and one walk while punching out two batters. Josh Baumgart finished the game with four innings letting in two runs and giving up four hits and one walk and also striking out two hitters.

Minnesota Baseball Academy Player of the Game

(Game 1) - Dane Hutcheon (SS) - The product of the University of Montevallo had his best game of the season. He finished 4-for-5 at the dish with two RBI, raising his season average to .252.

Minnesota Baseball Academy Player of the Game

(Game 2) - Trooper Reynolds (DH) - The latest addition to the Blue Anchors offense extended his hitting streak to 11 in the night game by going 3-for-5 at the dish with two doubles and a run scored.

Notes: The Blue Anchors take on the Thunder Bay Border Cats Thursday at Knute Nelson Memorial Park...Fans can check out the team's social media pages for special deals at the concession stand...It's Vintage Car Night at the Shipyard presented by American National Insurance and fans can come check out vintage cars from the area and vote on their favorite...The game, starting at 7:05 pm, can be seen live at http://portal.stretchinternet.com/nwl.

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