Blue Anchors Pick up a 9-8 Walk-Off Win over Border Cats

July 4, 2013 - Northwoods League (Northwoods)
Alexandria Blue Anchors News Release


Alexandria, Minn. - The Alexandria Blue Anchors won on a walk-off hit against the Thunder Bay Border Cats by a score of 9-8Wednesday night at Knute Nelson Memorial Park. The Blue Anchors finished the first half with a record of 10-24.

Thunder Bay grabbed an early 1-0 lead against Spencer Koopmans after he allowed a two-out homer to Tyler Duplantis in the first inning.

Thanks to a homer off the bat of Albert Baur, the Blue Anchors were able to tie the score at one in the bottom of the second inning.

After retiring the first batter of the fourth inning, Koopmans walked Duplantis and Jason Vosler bringing up Kyle Hann. On a 1-1 pitch, Hann went deep to center putting the Border Cats up 4-1.

Their lead didn't last as the Blue Anchors answered in the bottom of the fourth. Tim Cusick started the inning with a walk. After Andrew Mulato struck out, Aaron Gretz walked before Tyler Curtis, making his Anchor debut,singled to score Cusick. After Georgie Salem grounded out putting Gretz and Curtis in scoring position, a wild pitch brought home Gretz. Kris Goodman singled home Curtis to tied the score at four and Andrew Sohn doubled home Goodman putting the Anchor ahead 5-4.

The Border Cats tied the score in the top of the fifth. Koopmans hit Alex Bautista to start the frame and Joey Hawkins advanced him to second base. A throwing error by the third baseman Kris Goodman allowed Bautista to score tying the game at five.

In the bottom of the sixth, the Anchors regained the lead. Salem singled with one out, went to second on a single by Goodman and the bases became loaded when Sohn walked. Baur grounded into a fielder's choice bringing home Salem putting Alexandria up 6-5.

Tyler Beck, who came in relief of Koopmans in the sixth, was cruising along until the eighth inning. Duplantis homered again to tie the score at six. Vosler singled and Hann walked putting two on. Brad Burcoff grounded out moving both runners into scoring position and Jacob Rogers was walked intentionally loading the bases. A base hit drove in two and after eight the Border Cats led 8-6.

The bottom of the ninth is when the excitement came for the Anchors. Ben Neyen came in to close out the game and retired the first batter he faced. Cusick and Mulato singled bringing Gretz to the plate. Gretz drove a pitch deep into left-center field that bounced off the wall scoring both runners and tying the score at eight. Dalton Leuschke came into pinch run for Gretz and Curtis advanced him to third. With two outs in the bottom of the ninth and the score tied, Salem singled on a difficult grounder to second base scoring Leuschke, giving the Anchors a walk-off victory 9-8.

Koopmans finished the game with five innings pitched and five runs allowed, four earned, on five hits with four walks and a strikeout. In three innings of relief, Beck gave up three runs on three hits and two walks with one strikeout. Before being hooked, Andy Johnson walked three straight batters without getting an out. Pick up the win was Taylor Simpson (1-2) who entered with the bases loaded and no outs and got out of the inning untouched with one strikeout.

Minnesota Baseball Academy Player of the Game - Aaron Gretz (C) - Though the Ohio State backstop had just one hit in the ballgame, it proved to be crucial as it tied the score in the bottom of the ninth. He also walked in the game and threw a runner out trying to steal a bag.

Notes: The Blue Anchors completed their first Subway Sweep of the season and fans walked away with coupons for 2-for-1 six inch subways thanks to Subway Subs...The homer for Baur was his first since June 18th against Willmar...Every Blue Anchor had at least one hit in the contest...Two runs scored for Goodman gave him the team-lead with 24 this season...With nine walks in the game, Alexandria's pitching staff has now walked more batters than they have struck out...The Blue Anchors finish their three-game home stand

Thursday on the fourth of July against the Willmar Stingers...The starter is yet to be determined and the game time is set for 7:05 p.m...The game can be seen live at www.youtube.com/user/NorthwoodsLeague.



Northwoods League Stories from July 4, 2013


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