Blue Anchors Lose Doubleheader to Loggers

August 8, 2013 - Northwoods League (Northwoods)
Alexandria Blue Anchors News Release


Game One

Alexandria, Minn. - The Alexandria Blue Anchors lost two games to the La Crosse Loggers Wednesday night by scores of 7-4 and 11-5 at Knute Nelson Memorial Park. With four games left in the season, the Anchors have an 11-21 second-half record and are 21-45 overall.

The Blue Anchors got an early lead against Steve Hagen in the second inning Ryan Blanchard singled with one out and went to second on an error. Keegan Dale then singled in Blanchard to put Alexandria up 1-0.

In the third, the Anchors used a two-out rally to add on. Dalton Leuschke singled with two outs and went to second on a Shea Molitor base hit. Tim Cusick and Blanchard then hit back-to-back singles to bring in two runs and give the Anchors a 3-0 lead.

The Loggers pulled close in the fifth against Corey Fitzgerald. Zack Rivera singled but was out on a fielder's choice by Nick Kanavas. A base hit by Austin Rei moved Rivera to second and a wild pitch moved both runners into scoring position. Mike Nadratwoski grounded into fielder's choice to bring in Kanavas and a single by Brandon DeFazio scored Rei to pull La Crosse within one.

Alexandria thought they got an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth against the Loggers' bullpen. Aaron Gretz singled with one-out and Jake Bergren came in as a pinch runner. He stole second base and an error off the bat of Georgie Salem increased the Anchors' advantage 4-2.

Andy Johnson came in for the save but walked Rei to start the inning. After retiring the next two batters, Kevin Zak hit a two-run homer to centerfield to tie the game at four.

In the ninth inning with the score still tied, Rei again walked to start the inning. Nadratowski reached on a fielder's choice and Zak singled with two outs. Then on a 2-1 offering, Michael Katz homered to right-center giving La Crosse the 7-4 win.

Fitzgerald finished the night with six innings pitched and two unearned runs allowed on five hits and a walk with two strikeouts. Johnson (1-4) was the losing pitching giving up five runs on five hits and two walks with three punch outs in three innings of work.

Minnesota Baseball Academy Player of the Game - Ryan Blanchard (LF) - In his final game as a Blue Anchor, the Alabama outfielder had two hits, a run scored and an RBI. He finished the season with a .290 average.

Game Two

The Loggers gained a big-lead early against Eldon Evans in the second. Katz hit a solo homer to start the inning and after the bases became loaded with no outs, a single by Chris Keck scored two and a grounder by Steven Moen brought in another making the score 4-0.

The Blue Anchors made a brief comeback in the bottom of the second. Cusick singled to start the inning and Michael Barash moved him to third with a double. Dale singled in Cusick and Barash came around on an Andrew Mulato base hit. A one-out single by Tyler Curtis plated Dale and pulled the Anchors within one as they trailed 4-3.

La Crosse added onto their lead and put the game out of reach. The inning was highlighted by another Katz solo homer and an Eric Toole three-run blast, giving the Loggers a 9-3 lead.

Alexandria put another run on the board as Dale doubled to start the fifth and was driven in by Leuschke who singled.

Ross Slaney, who entered in the fifth, was in a bases-loaded jam and allowed a double to Johnny Bekakis scoring two runs and increasing La Crosse's lead to 11-4.

In the bottom of the seventh, the Anchors scratched together one more run. Leuschke hit an infield single and went to second when Curtis walked. Molitor singled in Leuschke and the final score was 11-5.

Evans (2-2) took the loss going 2.1 innings allowing seven runs on six hits and three walks. Ben Larpenter, who made his Anchors debut, went .1 innings giving up two runs on two hits. Dominic Reed pitched 1.1 innings and struck out four hitters allowing just a walk and a hit. Slaney gave up two runs on two hits and two walks in one inning. AJ Anderson, also making his debut, pitched two scoreless innings punching out four hitters and giving up a hit and a walk.

Minnesota Baseball Academy Player of the Game - Keegan Dale (SS) - The Cal State Fullerton infielder reached base four times as hit had two hits and two walks with a couple of runs scored and an RBI. His average now sits at .295 this summer.

Notes: The Anchors finished 0-4 against the Loggers in 2013...Dale now leads the team in on-base percentage at a .414 clip...Fitzgerald had his second quality start of the season...Johnson tied Tyler Beck for the team-lead in strikeouts with 42...Bergren collected his first hit since rejoining the team...The Blue Anchors start a two-game series to finish out the 2013 home schedule against the Wisconsin Rapids Rafters Thursday...Spencer Koopmans (2-1, 5.80) is on the mound...The game, starting at 7:05 p.m., can be seen live at www.youtube.com/user/NorthwoodsLeague.



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