Stingers cruise past Blue Anchors 24-5

June 26, 2013 - Northwoods League (Northwoods)
Alexandria Blue Anchors News Release


Alexandria, Minn - The Alexandria Blue Anchors fell to the Willmar Stingers Tuesday night by a score of 24-5 at Knute Nelson Memorial Park. Alexandria now has a record of 5-20 in the 2013 season.

Willmar wasted little time getting on board in the top of the first against Blue Anchor starter Tyler Beck. Logan Moon doubled on the first pitch of the game and came around to score when Beck committed a throwing error on a sacrifice bunt by Kyle Perry. Max Kuhn followed with a single to score Perry making the score 2-0. On a 2-1 Beck offering, Marc Flores launched a ball over the short-centerfield fence to give the Stingers a 4-0 lead.

In the bottom of the fourth, Andrew Mulato and Aaron Gretz drew walks to start the frame. Georgie Salem bunted both runners into scoring position and Dalton Leuschke brought home Mulato making the score 4-1.

The Stingers' lead was cut again in the bottom of the fifth. Ryan Blanchard singled with two outs and went to second on a wild pitch. Tim Cusick singled home Blanchard and the Anchors cut their deficit to 4-2.

Beck beaned Colton Bottemley with a pitch to begin the top of the sixth and first baseman Nick Halamandaris hit a long home run to right field pushing Willmar's lead to 6-2.

Zac Custer came in relief of Beck in the seventh and retired the first two Stinger batters he faced. Flores drew a walk and a Michael Suchy homer created an 8-2 Willmar advantage. A double by Bottemley followed by a single by Halamandaris gave the Stingers' their ninth run of the night.

The eighth is where the game got ugly for the Blue Anchor pitching staff. Ross Slaney entered for Custer. The first seven batters reached base safely and six runs came around to score. 12 men came to the plate in the inning and it was highlighted by a pinch-hit, three-run home run by Danny Brennan.

Things got worse for the Anchors in the ninth as 16 Stinger batters came to the plate. Ty Walker was called on to finish the game for Alexandria but was unable to complete the task as Taylor Simpson had to get the last out of the inning. Willmar scored nine runs in the inning making the score 24-2 heading into the bottom of the ninth.

Though down by 22 runs, the potent Alexandria offense still brought home some runs. Drew Jacobs came in for the Stingers on the mound and Keegan Dale reached first on an error by the shortstop. Andrew Sohn drew a walk as did Cusick one out later to load the bases. Mulato struck out for the second out of the inning bringing up the pitcher, Simpson. He drew a bases-loaded walk and Salem singled to bring in Sohn and Cusick to give the final score 24-5.

Beck took the loss (1-4) pitching six innings allowing six runs, four earned, on four hits and one walk while striking out seven. On three hits and a walk, Custer gave up three runs and struck out two. In one inning of work, Slaney allowed six runs, five earned, on four hits and three walks with one strikeout. In two-thirds of an inning, Walker surrendered three hits and walked four, while striking out one batter, to give up nine runs, five of which were earned. Simpson finished the game pitching one-third of an inning giving up a hit, walk with a strikeout.

Minnesota Baseball Academy Player of the Game - Georgie Salem (LF) - Salem saw his average climb to .438 in seven games this summer since joining the team. He had three hits and a sacrifice bunt in five trips to the dish. His two RBI give him five on the year.

Notes: 24 runs allowed is the most in the Blue Anchors' short history...With two hits in Tuesday's contest, Blanchard's hitting streak went to seven games...Beck's seven strikeouts is a season high...Simpson is the first pitcher to have a plate appearance in Blue Anchor history...The team is yet to win back-to-back games this season...The Blue Anchors will look to even the series with the Stingers Wednesday night at Taunton Stadium in Willmar...On the mound for Alexandria is Corey Fitzgerald (0-2, 7.29)...The broadcast can be heard live, starting at 7:05 p.m., at www.youtube.com/user/NorthwoodsLeague.



Northwoods League Stories from June 26, 2013


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