Honkers' Offense Mashes Their Way to Fifth Straight Win
June 8, 2023 - Northwoods League (Northwoods)
Rochester Honkers News Release
The Rochester Honkers (9-2) entered their meeting with the La Crosse Loggers (3-6) as the best team in the entire Northwoods League, regardless of conference. The Flock, off to their best start in recent memory, stayed hot and rode their bats to a fifth consecutive win in a 12-2 blowout victory on the road in La Crosse, WI.
As Honkers fans have been accustomed to this season, the offense started slow. The Loggers got out to a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the third inning on a two-run double from Mitch Wood (Yavapai College). After five innings, the Honkers had mustered just four hits against righty starter Logan Runde (Iowa Western).
Despite the start, the team remained confident. They were hitting the ball hard and knew a change in approach was not necessary - it was just a matter of time.
A matter of time it was as the floodgates opened in the top of the sixth inning. The Honkers sent 11 batters to the plate and scored seven runs in the frame. The first six Rochester batters would get on base as Runde lost command and control of the ball.
After loading the bases with no outs, leader Nico Regino (Charleston Southern) walked on a full-count to make the score 2-1. The very next at bat, Ben North (Creighton) lined a two-run single into center field to give the Honkers a lead they would only strengthen. They would add four more runs in the inning as the Loggers pitching staff fell apart, surrendering two walks and a hit by pitch in the frame.
Already up 7-2, the Honkers made sure there was no doubt in the seventh inning. They scored five more with the dagger being a bases-clearing double from Logan Mock (Southern Indiana) to stretch the lead to double digits. The catcher, who entered the contest 1-18 at the plate, went 2-4 and earned the prestigious Central Bark Top Dog of the Night honors.
The pitching for Rochester, as it has been virtually all season, was rock solid. Jon Rossi (Roanoke College) turned in his second quality start, going 5 innings allowing just two runs. Relievers Sean Head (Delta College) and Tyler Frey (Wingate University) each breezed through two innings of relief.
In the contest, Craska extended his hitting streak to five games and every Honker would reach base. Only Kimo Fukofuka (San Jose State), who was 0-3, did not record a hit.
The Honkers have now won five straight games and sit comfortably atop the Great Plains East along with the entire Northwoods League. They look for their second straight series sweep of the Loggers on Fri., June 9. Scheduled first pitch time is 6:35 p.m.
Northwoods League Stories from June 8, 2023
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- Rafters Continue to Stay Hot, Extend Their Win Streak to 4 in a Row - Wisconsin Rapids Rafters
- Cepicky's Walk-Off Seals Deal, Larks Beat Express in Back-And-Forth Affair - Bismarck Larks
- Honkers' Offense Mashes Their Way to Fifth Straight Win - Rochester Honkers
- Kingfish Top Jackrabbits in Back and Forth Victory - Kenosha Kingfish
- La Crosse Old Styles Lose First Game in Four Decades, 12-2 - La Crosse Loggers
- Stingers Hold off Late Comeback Effort, Defeat MoonDogs 5-2 - Willmar Stingers
- Battle Jacks Fall to Traverse City 14-4, Game One Woes Continue - Battle Creek Battle Jacks
- Madison Scratches Back, Unable to Finish the Job in Extras - Madison Mallards
- Rox Offense Comes Alive Late, Beat Waterloo 3-2 - Look for Sweep Tomorrow at Home - St. Cloud Rox
- Rockers Fall at Home to Rafters - Green Bay Rockers
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- Growlers Fall in Heartbreaker in First Game of Homestand - Kalamazoo Growlers
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- Huskies Blow 6-0 Lead, Fall Below .500 with 8-6 Loss - Duluth Huskies
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- Limited Spots Remain for the Stingers Kids Club Presented by Co-Op Credit Union - Willmar Stingers
- Battle Jacks Offense Surges, Win 12-6 to Split Series with Rivets - Battle Creek Battle Jacks
- Dock Spiders Walk Off the Rockers 5-4 In the I-41 Showdown - Fond du Lac Dock Spiders
- Honkers' Late Comeback Results in 4th Straight Win - Rochester Honkers
- Mallards' Offense Ignites in Blowout Win - Madison Mallards
- The Rox Walk Eleven Times in Willmar - Return the Rock Pile Tomorrow! - St. Cloud Rox
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