Blue Anchors Win in Walk-Off Fashion over Border Cats

Published on July 17, 2013 under Northwoods League (Northwoods)
Alexandria Blue Anchors News Release


Alexandria, Minn. - The Alexandria Blue Anchors beat the Thunder Bay Border Cats 12-10 in grand fashion at Knute Nelson Memorial Park Tuesday night. The win gives Alexandria a 5-8 second-half record and they are now 15-32 overall.

In the bottom of the first the Blue Anchors grabbed an early lead against Caleb Smith. Georgie Salem singled to right to start the ballgame and went to second on a wild pitch. A groundout by Kris Goodman moved Salem to third and another wild pitch brought Salem home with Andrew Sohn up and Alexandria led 1-0.

The Border Cats were able to get on the board in the top of the fourth inning against starter Spencer Koopmans. A leadoff double by Tyler Duplantis got things started as he moved to third on a groundout to shortstop. A line-drive single by Kyle Hann plated Duplantis to tie the score one.

After Koopmans started the game well, he ran into trouble in the fifth. Ty Stetson, Dylan Becker singled to bring up Duplantis. A wild pitch scored Stetson giving Thunder Bay the 2-1 lead. A two-out single by Kyle Hann though scored both Becker and Duplantis to extend the lead to 4-1.

Alexandria responded in the bottom of the fifth. Smith retired the first two batters he faced but allowed a base hit to Keegan Dale. Andrew Mulato was hit by a pitch and and Salem double into right-center to pull the Anchors within one run. After the double Zach Thiac entered in relief and gave up a base hit to Goodman bringing home Salem, tying the score again, this time at four a piece.

Thunder Bay regained the lead again in the top of the sixth. Jacob Rogers singled to start the frame and went to third on a one-out double by Joey Hawkins. Stetson was intentionally walked to load the bases and after a pop-up by Becker, Koopmans was close to getting out of the jam. Duplantis though singled into center to bring home Rogers and Hawkins and the Border Cats led again 6-4. Taylor Simpson came in relief and walked the first batter he faced Jason Vosler loading the bases. A wild pitch brought home Stetson making the score 7-4 in Thunder Bay's favor.

Zac Custer came in for the seventh and walked Rogers with one out. An error by Sohn allowed Alex Bautista to reach and Hawkins singled to score Rogers. Going to third on the single was Bautista and he scored on a sacrifice fly by Stetson to extend Thunder Bay's lead to 9-4.

Against the new Border Cat pitcher, Anthony Pastrana, the Blue Anchors got one run back. The bases were loaded with no outs but Salem grounded into a double play to score Aaron Gretz, pulling Alexandria closer, 9-5. Albert Baur added a home run in the bottom of the eighth to make it 9-6.

Rogers led off the top of the ninth against new Blue Anchor pitcher Scott Sanderson with a single. He was out on a fielder's choice by Bautista and a groundout by Hawkins put Bautista in scoring position. Stetson singled into right field scoring Bautista and put the Border Cats up 10-6.

Daniel Stoney came in to close out the ninth but he was unable to retire a batter as he walked Dale, Mulato, Salem and Goodman to pull the Anchors closer, 10-7. Steven Pastrana came in for the save opportunity and allowed a single to Sohn scoring Mulato to cut the deficit to 10-8. Then on a 2-2 pitch, Baur went deep to centerfield for a walk-off grand-slam home run to give the Blue Anchors a dramatic 12-10 comeback victory.

Minnesota Baseball Academy Player of the Game - Albert Baur (DH) - The Northwoods League All Star had been struggling at the plate earlier in the game but he was clutch late in the game. In his last two at bats he hit two homers, one being the walk-off winner, scoring two runs and driving in five runs.

Notes: The grand slam by Baur is the seventh in the Alexandria Northwoods League franchise history...This is the first time Baur has homered twice in a game...Dale is working on a six-game hitting streak...Mulato had a season-high three walks...This is the second walk-off win in the Blue Anchors franchise history, with both coming against Thunder Bay...The Anchors continue their series with the Border Cats Wednesday and that means it's photo night sponsored by Coenen Photography...Fans can come to the Shipyard an hour before game time and have their photos taken with three players and/or coaches...Starting on the bump for the Anchors will be Hunter Newman (1-2, 8.43)...The game can be seen, starting at 7:05 p.m., on www.youtube.com/user/NorthwoodsLeague.

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Northwoods League Stories from July 17, 2013


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