Beetles Open Series with Win over Thunder Bay

Published on July 7, 2012 under Northwoods League (Northwoods)
Alexandria Beetles News Release


Thunder Bay, ON - Ben Moore hit a go-ahead two-run homer in the top of the fifth and Tanner Vavra broke a 2-2 deadlock with a two-out double in the seventh as the Alexandria Beetles (14-24, 1-2) knocked off the Thunder Bay Border Cats (16-22, 0-3) in the first of three north of the border.

It was an engaging and well-played affair Saturday as starters Steve Weber and Blake Fonfara matched each other strike for strike and both teams showed off stellar glove work.

The Beetles threatened first in the top of the second loading the bases with one out but couldn't strike a decisive blow against Fonfara. On the other side of the ball, the Border Cats were held hitless through three by Weber though they broke through with a single run in the top of the fourth after a leadoff single by Brett Kay and a two-out RBI single by Adam Landecker on a line-drive to right.

But the lead was short-lived as Matt Lowenstein singled to lead off the fifth for the Beetles and with one out, Moore crushed a line drive just inside the left-field foul pole, his team-leading sixth of the season, to but the visitors in front.

Thunder Bay answered right back as James Bonds hit a homer of his own, this to right, to level the game at two in the bottom of the inning.

Weber departed after the fifth setting the stage for an electric bullpen performance aided by some outstanding glove by Ryan Padilla.

In the top of the sixth, Padilla was robbed of a double on a leaping grab by Payden Cawley Lamb at the wall in right. In the bottom of the inning, he returned the favor. With one out and a runner on second, Landecker drove a ball deep into the wind in left. Padilla raced back to the ball and, with his glove above the fence, pulled back a go-ahead homer and doubled off the runner to end the frame and preserve the stalemate.

Alexandria went ahead for good in the next half inning as Guerra led off with a single and with two outs, Vavra laced a liner into the right field corner for the 3-2 lead and came home when Ben Moore followed with a single up the middle.

From that point on, Alex Guilford and Anthony Bazzani were lights out on the hill for the Beetles retiring the side in order in each of the last three innings. In the ninth, Bazzani struck out the side swinging to clinch the Beetle victory and earn his seventh save of the year.

Guilford was the winner to improve to 4-2 with three of his wins coming against Thunder Bay. The Border Cats managed only three hits in the contest.

The teams return to Subway Field for a 5:05 EST battle on Sunday.

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Northwoods League Stories from July 7, 2012


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