Northwoods Rochester Honkers

Honkers' Offense Explodes in Season Opener

Published on May 31, 2013 under Northwoods League (Northwoods)
Rochester Honkers News Release


(Rochester,MN) - Toby Thomas (Pensacola State) stole his way around the bases to give Rochester a dramatic 3-2 win in 12 innings to defeat Mankato in the Honkers season opener that ended early Friday morning at Mayo Field in Rochester, MN.

Thomas drew a one-out walk in the bottom of the 12th inning, he later stole second and third base and came around to score on a wild throw that sailed into left field to give Rochester its second consecutive win to start the season.

After a two-hour and five-minute rain delay, the Honkers and MoonDogs were able to start after 9 p.m. Kalei Hanawahine (Hawaii) started the bottom half of the first inning by lacing a double down the right field line. Matt Halloran (Minnesota) followed with a single that bounced off of first base and into right field to score Hanawahine. Mankato starting pitcher, Shane Henderson did not make it through the first inning. The 6'7" right-hander has already underwent Tommy John surgery, so he was pulled after showing discomfort after just 14 pitches.

Matt Jones reached on a Thomas error to start the MoonDogs half of the second. Zach Zehner followed up by also reaching on an error by pitcher Brandon Stennis (Doane College) to put runners on the corners with no outs. Stennis managed to get out of the inning with the score tied at one. Stennis allowed just the one unearned run on four hits in six innings of work. He struck out ten and walked just one batter.

The score remained knotted at one until the bottom half of the fifth inning. Mitch Anderson (Rochester Community and Technical College) started the inning by walking on four pitches. He came around to score on a double to the left-center field gap by Halloran to put the Honkers ahead by a score of 2-1.

Alex Tenorio (Menlo College) pitched two perfect innings before Jones reached on an error by Steve Serratore at third base to start the top of the ninth inning. Jones advanced to second, stole third, and came in to score the tying run-his second of the game-after a sacrifice fly by Jake Ellison. Tenorio struck avoided further damage by recording a strikeout to end the inning. Tenorio did not allow a hit and struck out six batters in three innings.

Seth Fuller (Black Hawk College) picked up the win (1-0) for the Honkers. He worked three scoreless innings in relief, allowing three hits while striking out three. Rochester's pitching staff fanned 19 MoonDogs on the night. Mike Novak took the loss for Mankato, he allowed one unearned run in 1.2 innings.

Halloran and Hanawahine led the Honkers offense. Halloran finished going 4-for-5 with a walk and Hanawahine delivered a pair of doubles.

Rochester (2-0) will look to complete the three-game sweep over Mankato on Friday, May 31, at Franklin Rogers Park in Mankato. Jordan Milbrath (Augustana College) is slated to pitch for Rochester, while Bryan Bonnell is expected to start for Mankato.

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