Beetles Outlast Rox

June 24, 2012 - Northwoods League (Northwoods)
Alexandria Beetles News Release


Alexandria, MN - In a wild high-scoring and error-filled tilt on Sunday evening, the Alexandria Beetles (9-16) sent the St. Cloud Rox (5-18) to their 13th consecutive loss at Knute Nelson.

St. Cloud took an early 2-0 lead on an RBI double in the first and sacrifice fly in the third, and looked poised to extend the advantage in the fourth off Beetle starter Shawn Riesgraf.

With two outs, Travis Enger walked and Nick Rau followed with a double to left. Running on contact, Enger lumbered around third as Dylan Raper fired to Josh Carpenter on the lip between the infield dirt and outfield grass who in turn fired to catcher Robert Case. With Enger bearing down, Case reached up the third base line, catching the ball on the back of the sliding Enger as the two catchers collided. A bloodied Case held on to the ball to retire the side, though he was forced to leave the game.

Buoyed by Case's defense, the Beetles struck for four in the fourth, batting around. Held without a hit through three, Alexandria had four hits in the inning. Jimmy Pickens singled to right to lead off and after a fielder's choice, Matt Beaty and pinch-hitter Jared Musgrove walked to load the bases. With two outs and a run in after an RBI groundout, Tanner Vavra, Raper and Ben Moore each delivered run-scoring singles to put the Beetles in front by two.

But the Rox, whose last win came against Alexandria on June 8, put up a four spot of their own in the top of the fifth. One out singles by Tony Skjefte, Boo Vazquez and Carlos Lopez scored one, a throwing error plated two more, and Beetle-killer Henkemeyer tripled in a fourth to make the score 6-4 in favor of the visitors.

Exchanging thunderous blows, Alexandria scored four more in the bottom of the inning without recording a single hit thanks to three walks, two hit batters and a pair of errors.

Up 8-6, the Beetles added four more in the seventh. Vavra led off the inning with a homerun, his second of the season, and after a Raper single, Moore hit a two-run shot. Another St. Cloud error led to the fourth run of the inning and a 12-6 lead.

The Beetles needed every bit of the advantage as the Rox batted around in the ninth off reliever Mitchell Babb who was superb in his first three innings of work. But a pair of singles put runners on first and second with one out and Henkemeyer torched Alexandria again, this time with a three run homerun. A hit by pitch, walk, pitching change, and double later, this off closer Anthony Bazzani, and the score was 12-11. Bazzani struck out pinch-hitter Jamie Simpson on a 2-2 slider to preserve the victory.

Henkemeyer has 13 RBIs in five games against the Beetles this year.

Alexandria hits the road for a mini two-game set in Rochester starting 7:05 CDT Monday.



Northwoods League Stories from June 24, 2012


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