Loggers Better Rox 10-4
Published on July 31, 2013 under Northwoods League (Northwoods)
La Crosse Loggers News Release
LA CROSSE, WI -- Behind a solid performance by Corey Ceponis (Marshalltown CC) and an abundance of offense, the La Crosse Loggers (14-10) defeated the Saint Cloud Rox, 10-4, in front of 3,080 Copeland Crazies
After Ceponis shut down the Rox for three innings, the Logger bats produced three runs on four hits in the bottom of the third. Catcher Steve Moen (Sonoma State), who made a terrific catch in foul territory to end the top of the third, led things off with a walk. On the next pitch, left fielder Mike Nadratowski (Grand Valley State) then singled sharply to left.
Shortstop Brandon DeFazio (San Diego) then laid down a beautiful sacrifice bunt, to put runners at second and third with just one out. Kevin Zak (Grand Valley State) then burnt center fielder Tim Colwell for his 11thdouble of the summer, scoring both Moen and Nadratowski. Clean-up hitter Michael Katz (William & Mary) then singled home Zak to give La Crosse an early 3-0 advantage.
There was plenty more where that came from.
Following two quick outs to begin the bottom of the fourth, the Lumbermen exploded for six runs to really open up the game.
Moen started things out with a single and then scored on a double by Nadratwoski. DeFazio then sent a 3-2 fastball into the right-center gap for another RBI-double. A single by Zak and walk to Katz loaded the bases for the Loggers' center fielder Johnny Bekakis (Long Beach State).
Bekakis, who has struggled as of late, sent a 1-1 Bryce Jackson fastball high into the sky to left field. When the ball finally came down, it was behind the left field wall and good for a grand slam. The big fly was Bekakis' sixth of the summer and increased his RBI totally to 39.
Ceponis ran into a bit of a wall in the top of the fifth. A walk to the first two hitters of the inning set up Blake Headley for a sac-bunt opportunity. Headley executed and Ceponis' throw pulled Katz off of first as the third baseman reached safely on the error.
The Rox would score two runs in what would be Ceponis' final inning. The Chicago native lasted five innings, surrendering just two hits and four walks. He also struck out six in his first win as a member of the Loggers.
Madison native Zach Ransom came on in the seventh for La Crosse. The southpaw allowed just one hit over the course of the final three innings. Ransom also picked up a save in his Logger debut.
After extending his hitting streak to 12 games with a third inning single, Katz stepped to the plate in the bottom of the seventh looking for more and proceeded to hit a mammoth home run to left. The big fly was his ninth in 12 games and now puts him just four behind David Schultz's single-season record (16).
The Grand Valley State products continued to contribute at the top of the order. Nadratowski collected three hits after pounding out four on Tuesday. The sophomore also scored two runs and drove in another.
Zak, who was La Crosse's designated hitter on Wednesday, had two hits for the second straight game. He scored two runs in the win and also drove in two more, giving him 37 RBI on the season.
La Crosse and St. Cloud will be back in action tomorrow evening at Copeland Park. The game is scheduled to start at 7:05 with the gates opening at 6:00.
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