Anchors split doubleheader with Honkers

July 18, 2015 - Northwoods League (Northwoods)
Alexandria Blue Anchors News Release


Alexandria, Minn. - The Blue Anchors split a doubleheader with the Rochester Honkers Saturday at Knute Nelson Memorial Park. They fell in the first game 4-3 and won the second 5-3. The Anchors are now 10-8 in the second half and 22-31 on the season.

Game 1

The Honkers grabbed the lead in the bottom of the first against Max Knutson. Alex Schultz led off with a walk and came in on a two-run blast from Joe DeRoche-Duffin putting them ahead 2-0.

In the top of the fifth the Anchors got to starter Jordan Gross. Drew Fearing singled with one out and went to second on Steve Sada's base hit. Both runners moved into scoring position on a passed ball and Dane Hutcheon drove in Fearing with a sacrifice fly. A single up the middle by Josh Merrigan scored Sada to tie the game at two.

Rochester grabbed the lead once again in the fifth. Miles Mastrobuoni singled to start the inning and went to second when Matt Hopfner dropped the ball in a rundown between first and second. An infield single by Alex Schultz moved Mastrobuoni to third and he came in on a sacrifice fly by Matt Fiedler making the score 3-2 in the Honker's favor.

Nehwon Norkeh singled to start the sixth and he went to second on an error. Kyle Richardson walked to put two runners on. After Hutcheon popped up a bunt for out number one, both runners pulled off a double steal. Matt Hopfner grounded a ball to second scoring Norkeh tying the game again at three a piece.

The game came to quite an interesting ending in the bottom of the seventh. William Paschal tripled to right field and the relay throw from Hutcheon went in the Anchors' dugout and allowing Paschal to score and giving the Honkers a 4-3 victory.

Knutson finished the game with 4.2 innings allowing three runs (two earned) on four hits and two walks. He tied a season-high with seven strikeouts. Ciji Ramos pitched 1.1 scoreless striking out a one hitter. Mitch Larson (1-2) got the loss allowing an unearned run on one hit.

Game 2

The Honkers grabbed the lead in the top of the fourth against Graylon Brown. Cole Krzmarzick singled with one out and went to second on a wild pitch. A single from Slade Heggen put runners on the corners and Dempsey Grover collected an RBI single putting Rochester ahead 1-0.

Rochester added a run in the fifth. With Deroche-Duffin on first, Mark Contreras singled and the ball was kicked away by Norkeh allowing Deroche-Duffin to score the second run of the game.

The Honkers added what they thought was more insurance in the sixth against Josh Baumgart. With Grover on first, Paschal doubled him in increasing their lead to 3-0.

The Blue Anchors started a rally in the sixth against Matt Walker. Ben Allen walked to start the inning. Luke Petterson drove a ball into left-centerfield and the throw back to the infield got away into the Anchors' dugout allowing Allen to score their first run and Petterson moved to third. Sada and Merrigan walked to load the bases when the Honkers turned to their closer Spencer Greer. Ricky Sanchez drove in Petterson with a groundout cutting the deficit to one. With two in scoring position, Matt Duce lined a hard double to centerfield bringing home both runners giving them a 4-3 lead. Trooper Reynolds added an insurance run with a double bringing home Duce and that gave them the 5-3 lead.

Brown (1-3) was the tough-luck loser pitching five innings allowing two runs, one earned, on six hits and a walk with five punch outs. Baumgart (1-1) got the win pitching one inning allowing a run on two hits. Eric White collected his third save of the season pitching a perfect seventh with a strikeout.

Minnesota Baseball Academy Player of the Game (Game 1) - Drew Fearing (3B) - The product of North Dakota State went 2-for-3 with a run scored.

Minnesota Baseball Academy Player of the Game (Game 2) - Matt Duce (C) - The offense was stale for most of the game but the bats woke up in the sixth. His double drove in the game-tying and go-ahead runs. He later scored a run of his own.

Notes: The Blue Anchors wrap up their series with the Rochester Honkers on Sunday before having three days off for the Northwoods League All Star Break...Sundays mean fans 60 and older can get in $1 thanks to Ecumen Bethany Community...It's also Family Fun Sunday and kids can run the bases after the game...A food demo will be held my KLN...The game, starting at 1:05 pm, can be seen live at http://portal.stretchinternet.com/nwl/.



Northwoods League Stories from July 18, 2015


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