Loggers Walk Off on Woodchucks in Extras, Crowned 2012 South Division Champions
Published on August 15, 2012 under Northwoods League (Northwoods)
La Crosse Loggers News Release
LA CROSSE, WIS. (Aug. 14, 2012) - The La Crosse Loggers used a walk-off hit by Jimmy Bosco (Arkansas) to beat the Wisconsin Woodchucks in the 11th inning of Game Two of the South Division Playoffs, 8-7, at Copeland Park in front of 2,037 Copeland Crazies. The Loggers claim the 2012 South Division Championship by sweeping the two games against the Chucks, with both wins coming in the team's last at bats.
Wisconsin jumped to an early 2-0 lead through two groundouts that resulted in RBIs after a leadoff single by Madison Carter that was followed by a double by Brooks Braga. However, the Loggers answered with three runs of their own in the bottom of the frame.
La Crosse used two doubles, a single, a walk, and a RBI groundout to take the 3-2 lead. Rich Prigatano (Long Beach State) had an RBI single to left field and Brandon Bednar (Florida Gulf Coast) drove him in two batters later.
The Woodchucks regained the lead in the top of the third inning with a solo home run by Brendon Hayden and a RBI double by John Roberts. The Lumbermen countered with a solo shot of their own, thanks to a line-drive by Matt Chapman (Cal State Fullerton).
Unfortunately for the home team, they would be set down in order for the next five innings, due in large part to Northwoods League Pitcher of the Year, Jack Fischer. Fischer, who started for Wisconsin, pitched six innings and allowed the four earned runs, but also struck out nine. Ben Burke then took over and breezed through the next two innings by retiring six straight, including three fly outs with nine pitches in the eighth inning.
After Loggers starter Josh Frye (Long Beach State) pitched six innings with four runs allowed, three of them earned, he gave way to Jacob Dorris (Texas A&M - Corpus Christi). Dorris would give up the lead through allowing one run in each of the three innings he worked. In the seventh inning, the Chucks scored on a bases-walk. Roberts led off with a home run to right field in the eighth, with Madison Carter crossing home plate on a sacrifice fly by Eric Filia-Snyder in the ninth inning, giving Wisconsin a three-run advantage.
The Loggers responded by getting four consecutive singles off Burke to begin the bottom of the ninth. Prigatano hit a ball off the right-field wall to start the inning. He was then moved to third base by a line drive to right field by Bobby Juan (Minnesota). Bednar drove Prigatano in on a single hit up the middle of the diamond. Tyler Kuresa (UC Santa Barbara) followed with a ground ball up the middle. With the bases loaded, Joe Meggs (Washington) hit into a fielder's choice to the shortstop, but after getting the out at second base, the second baseman threw the ball into the Woodchucks dugout, allowing the two tying runs to score.
Matt Levert (Cal State San Bernadino) then pitched the next 2 2/3 innings for the Loggers. He struck out the side in the tenth, but allowed runners to get to first and second base with two outs in the 11th inning. Michael Wills (Memphis) then earned the win by obtaining a strikeout of Filia-Snyder to end the inning.
La Crosse loaded the bases in the bottom of the 11th inning through two singles and a fielder's choice. Bosco then hit a ball to the left field void that was created by the Woodchucks playing five infielders, and Juan scored the winning run that now sends the Loggers to the NWL Championship Series.
The South Division Champions will have to wait until tomorrow evening to find out who their opponent will be in Game 1 of the NWL Championship Series. After losing at home on Monday night, the Willmar Stingers went on the road and beat the Mankato MoonDogs on Tuesday night, 5-0. Regardless of who the Loggers face in Game 1, the team's next home game will be on Friday night at Copeland Park with first pitch at 7:05 p.m.
Northwoods League Stories from August 15, 2012
- MoonDogs Advance to Championship Series - Mankato MoonDogs
- Loggers Walk Off on Woodchucks in Extras, Crowned 2012 South Division Champions - La Crosse Loggers
- Stingers' Postseason Ends with 7-3 Loss at Mankato - Willmar Stingers
- Five Bucks Towards Top of League Statistical Categories - Waterloo Bucks
- 2012 Beetles Season Recap - Alexandria Beetles
- Despite 34-36 Finish, Bullfrogs Season Still a Success - Green Bay Rockers
- Kody Gorden Shuts Down Mankato for First Ever Stingers Playoff Win, 4-0 - Willmar Stingers
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