Northwoods La Crosse Loggers

DeFazio's Bat, Rei's Defense Lift Loggers

Published on August 4, 2013 under Northwoods League (Northwoods)
La Crosse Loggers News Release


LA CROSSE, WI - Behind four huge hits by Brandon DeFazio (San Diego) and a tremendous defensive play by Austin Rei (Washington), the La Crosse Loggers (17-11) defeated the first place Lakeshore Chinooks 5-4 on Sunday evening.

The Lumbermen got after Chinooks' starter Kyle Bouman right from the get-go.

DeFazio, who was leading off for the first time this season, started things out with a double in the bottom of the first. A Kevin Zak (Grand Valley State) single and walk to Johnny Bekakis (Long Beach State) set the stage for one of the NWL's hottest hitters in Michael Katz (William & Mary).

Katz hit a flare to shallow center, but shortstop Sawyer Polen made a marvelous over-the-shoulder catch to rob the sophomore of a base-hit.

Second baseman Zack Rivera (Long Beach State) then grounded into what appeared to be a 4-6-3 double play, but Polen overthrew Aaron Machbitz and both DeFazio and Zak would come around to score the first to runs of the game.

La Crosse got after Bouman once again in the second frame. Third baseman Nick Kanavas and Rei collected back-to-back singles to set the stage for DeFazio. The righty came through with a huge RBI double to center and pushed the Logger lead to 3-0.

Meanwhile, starting pitcher Derek Gordon (Park University) was rolling on the mound for La Crosse. Outside of a second inning double by Ryan Krill (Michigan State), the junior did not allow a hit in the first five innings of play.

The Chinooks turned things around in the top of the sixth. With a runner on first and two outs, Lakeshore's clean-up hitter Krill singled on a hard liner to right. A wild pitch by Gordon brought in the first run of the inning and an error by Rivera would bring in a second.

Gordon's outing would conclude following the inning. The righty lasted six innings and surrendered just three hits and two runs while striking out six. It was his third consecutive quality start.

Zach Ransom (UW-La Crosse) came on in the top of the seventh and gave up two runs on two hits and two walks before being pulled. Manager Jason Nell then called upon USC product James Guillen to get the Loggers out of a serious jam. After walking Krill, the junior induced a 6-3 groundout to end the scare.

It appeared Lakeshore was back in business in the top of the eighth. Jared Fon (UW-Whitewater) led-off with a single and proceeded to steal second. Fon then advanced to third on a Machbitz groundout.

With one out and a runner on third, the 3,006 Copeland Crazies in attendance saw what many might consider the biggest play of the season.

Eli Roundtree hit a grounder to Rivera at second and his immediate reaction was to go home. Rei received the throw and promptly chased Fon back to third, faking him out before placing a tag on him for the second out of the inning. Meanwhile, Roundtree attempted to move up to second but the freshman catcher reacted quickly and threw back to Rivera just in time for the out.

With two down in the bottom of the eighth, Rei stepped to the plate. The righty watched four straight pitches pass for a ball and took his free pass to first.

Following a passed ball, DeFazio and the Loggers were just a single away from taking a 5-4 advantage. The San Diego Torero to be came through with his fourth hit of the game, this one being the game-winner.

Michael Lowden (California) came on in the ninth to preserve the La Crosse victory. The junior struck out one and picked up his third save of the summer.

La Crosse and Lakeshore will be back in action tomorrow evening at Copeland Park. The gates will open at 6:00 with the first pitch being scheduled for 7:05. Join Micah Schroeder for the Kwik Trip Pregame show starting at 6:30 on the Loggers Radio Network.

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Northwoods League Stories from August 4, 2013


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