Northwoods La Crosse Loggers

Late Rally Not Enough for Loggers, Lose to Lakeshore

June 26, 2012 - Northwoods League (Northwoods)
La Crosse Loggers News Release


LA CROSSE, WIS. - Six runs in the bottom of the eighth inning still wasn't enough for the La Crosse Loggers (19-7) to stay unbeaten at Copeland Park. The Lakeshore Chinooks (13-13) dealt the Lumbermen their first loss at home, 10-8, in front of 2,604 fans on Monday night. The Loggers would only see the lead once, 2-1 in the bottom of the second inning, before Lakeshore scored nine unanswered runs.

After retiring the first two batters, Alex Gunn (Hinds CC) ran into trouble in the first inning. Ty Young doubled on a liner into the right field corner. Bre Kimbell and Eric Aguilera followed with singles, with the latter driving in Young. These three hitters killed Loggers pitching, going 9-14 from the plate, including four doubles, four runs scored, and five RBI.

The Loggers would answer an inning later. Matt Chapman (Cal State Fullerton) went opposite field and doubled down the first-base line. He was later scored on a two-RBI double by Steven Pallares (San Diego State). Pallares reached base on four of five at bats, with three walks, the two-RBI double, and a run scored.

Gunn was roughed up in the third and fourth innings. In the third, Zach Granite led off with a walk and would later score on Young's double that was a mirror of the hit two innings earlier. However, Charlie Markson was cut down at home plate by a relay from Rich Prigatano (Long Beach State) to Pallares to Tyler Servais (Princeton), with Young advancing to third on the throw. He would then cross home plate on a wild pitch by Gunn.

The fourth inning would be the end of Gunn's night. The Chinooks had four singles, scoring one run, and loading the bases when Gunn gave way to Scott Schultz (Oregon State). Unfortunately, Schultz gave up a double down the third-base line on a 1-2 count to Bre Kimbell that would clear the bases.

In the top of the seventh inning, Jordan Haseltine (San Francisco) relieved Schultz and struck out the first two batters he faced. Aguilera then doubled a line drive past Loggers first baseman, Tyler Kuresa (UC Santa Barbara). After that, Haseltine lost control and walked three consecutive batters, as well as two wild pitches that allowed two Chinooks to trot home. These two runs would end up being very important for Lakeshore.

After five innings of silent bats, the Loggers' bats awoke again. Brandon Bednar (Florida Gulf Coast) and Lucas Witt (Kentucky) hit two consecutive singles, with Pallares walking to load the bases. Servais then hit a fielder's choice to the first baseman, with Ryan Krill stepping on the base and letting Bednar take home. Brenden Farney hit two batters later, after being a defensive substitute when Pallares pitched in the top of the eighth inning. Keaton Steele would throw a ball in the dirt that got passed the catcher, with Witt scoring on the wild pitch and Pallares advancing to third. Farney would wait until a full count with two outs before hitting a blast to right field, his second homerun of the season. After Kuresa reached on a misplay by the shortstop, Prigatano unleashed on a 2-0 fastball to left field and bashed one off the light post over the wall. Unfortunately for the Loggers, Tyler Sparger would come in and pick up his third save by setting the last four batters he faced down in order.

These two teams will face each other again on Tuesday night at Copeland Park, with Jesse Holiday throwing for the Loggers and Carson Beauchaine taking the mound for the Chinooks. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. The Lumbermen's lead in the South Division is down to three games over Green Bay after they beat the Wisconsin Rapids Rafters 5-1 on Monday, with only nine games remaining in the first half of the season.



Northwoods League Stories from June 26, 2012


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