Rox Rally Against Beetles Falls Short
June 24, 2012 - Northwoods League (Northwoods)
St. Cloud Rox News Release
ALEXANDRIA- The St. Cloud Rox mounted a late comeback against the Alexandria Beetles but fell just short in a wild 12-11 loss at Knute Nelson Memorial Ballpark. The loss drops the Rox to 5-18 on the season.
The Rox banged out 15 hits as a team and seven Rox had multi-hit games. Tony Skjefte (Minnesota), Chris Paul (California), Boo Vazquez (Pittsburgh), Carlos Lopez (Cal State- Fullerton), Mark Rhine (Wake Forest) and Nick Rau each had a pair of hits while Andy Henkemeyer (Minnesota) paced the offense with three hits and four RBI including a 3- Run home run.
Rox starter Andy Urban (Creighton) lasted 4.1 innings and allowed four earned runs on four hits and eight walks. Shawn Riesgraf (St. Cloud State) got the win for the Beetles after pitching five innings of nine hit, four run ball. The Rox committed four errors to the Beetles' five.
Alexandria scored four runs in each of the fourth, fifth and seventh innings to take a 12-6 lead into the ninth inning. However, the Rox would mount a rally and nearly tie the game.
Vazquez started the rally with a single to center field, then advanced to second on Rhine's one out single. Vazquez and Rhine both scored on Henkemeyer's bomb, his second of the season, to make the score 12-9 with one out.
Phil Imholte (St Cloud State) was hit by a pitch then was advanced to second when his college teammate Travis Enger (St Cloud State) walked.
Alexandria then brought in their closer, 2012 Baltimore draft pick Anthony Bazzani (Eastern KY). Bazzani got the second out of the inning on his first pitch to Rau, a groundout to second base.
Erik Kozel (Colorado Mesa) came in to the game as a pinch runner for Enger. It was then that Paul hit a double to plate both Imholte and Kozel to cut the lead to 12-11 and put the tying run on second base with two outs.
Manager Augie Rodriguez went with a pinch hitter, replacing Tony Sjkefte with Jamie Simpson (Eastern Michigan). Simpson struck out for the final out of the game.
The Rox are home for series against the Border Cats and Honkers this week. Monday is Hometown Heroes Night by St Cloud Times, which features participants of the Can- Am games. Tuesday night is Timberwolves night with appearances by team mascot Crunch and members of the Timberwolves dance team, Wednesday is Bark in the Park and Thursday features Dueling Pianos. Tickets start at just $6 and can be purchased at www.stcloudrox.com.
Northwoods League Stories from June 24, 2012
- Roberts' Two Homers Power Stingers Past Mankato, 6-5 - Willmar Stingers
- Rox Rally Against Beetles Falls Short - St. Cloud Rox
- Beetles Outlast Rox - Alexandria Beetles
- Willmar Stings the MoonDogs - Mankato MoonDogs
- Near Perfection Gives Mallards Win - Madison Mallards
- Powers Named NWL's Pitcher of the Night - Waterloo Bucks
- Mallards and Express Ready for Afternoon Showdown - Madison Mallards
- Beetles Rally But Undone by Error - Alexandria Beetles
- Rafters Shut out by La Crosse - Wisconsin Rapids Rafters
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