Northwoods Rochester Honkers

Barker Provides Dramatics in First Game with Honkers

June 15, 2013 - Northwoods League (Northwoods)
Rochester Honkers News Release


(Rochester, MN) - Kevin Barker (UC Davis) made a huge impact in his first game with the Rochester Honkers as he delivered a walk-off two run single in a 7-6 win over the Thunder Bay Border Cats on Saturday at Mayo Field.

Border Cats starting pitcher Ryan Atwood loaded the bases in the bottom of the fourth inning as he walked Tucker Tharp (Kansas) and Matt Halloran (Minnesota) and hit Reid Roper with a pitch. Barker delivered a two-run single for his first hit of the season to put the Honkers ahead 2-0. Atwood allowed two runs on two hits, while walking five, in 3.2 innings.

Dylan Becker drew a walk to start the top of fourth inning for Thunder Bay. He later stole second and scored on a single from Tyler Duplantis. The run was the only one allowed by Rochester starting pitcher Jon Woodcock (Crowder Junior College) in his five innings of work. He struck out five batters and allowed just two hits.

Rochester got the run back in the bottom of the fifth inning when Roper singled to center field with two outs in the inning to score Jeff Campbell (North Dakota.) Kalei Hanawahine (Hawaii) drove a RBI double to the right-center field gap to score Barker, who walked to start the inning. Hanawahine moved over to third on a sacrifice bunt by Carter Burgess (Sam Houston State) and scored on a sacrifice fly from Tyler Baker (Wichita State) to give the Honkers a 5-1 lead after six innings of play.

The Border Cats clawed back from the 5-1 deficit thanks in large part to a pair of homeruns from Jason Vosler and Jacob Rogers to take a 6-5 lead into the bottom of the ninth.

Campbell started the bottom of the ninth inning with a single to right center field and Tucker Tharp (Kansas) followed with a single. Halloran moved both runners over with a sacrifice bunt and Roper was intentionally walked to load the bases to set up the dramatic moment for Barker. Barker singled over the shortstop and Tharp scored from second base to send the crowd at Mayo Field into a frenzy.

Seth Fuller (Black Hawk College) earned the win (2-0) as he allowed one run on one hit in one inning of relief. Matt Blackham took the loss (0-1) for the Border Cats. He allowed two runs on five hits in 2.1 innings. Barker led the Honkers offense with a pair of hits and four RBI. Campbell and Tharp also added two hits each for Rochester.

Rochester (9-9) continues its four-game home stand as it will host the Alexandria Blue Anchors on Sunday June 16 at 1:05 p.m. Jordan Milbrath (Augustana College) is slated to start for the Honkers, while Jamie Ritchie (Belmont) is scheduled to start for the Blue Anchors.



Northwoods League Stories from June 15, 2013


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