Wingnuts Celebrate Final Game at Lawrence-Dumont with Win
September 3, 2018 - American Association (AA)
Wichita Wingnuts News Release
WICHITA, Kan. - In the final game at historic Lawrence-Dumont Stadium, the Wichita Wingnuts wrapped up the 2018 season with a 4-1 win over the Sioux City Explorers on Monday afternoon.
The game marks the end of 85 years of baseball at one of the oldest ballparks in the country, one that has hosted all 11 seasons of the Wingnuts franchise. It was the site of the club's only American Association Championship in 2014, and witnessed more than 350 Wingnuts home victories.
The Wingnuts offense ensured the day started with a flourish, smacking hits on the first two pitches from Sioux City starter Dominic Topoozian (1-1). Logan Watkins led off the bottom of the first with a double to right-center, giving him 141 hits on the season. That established a new single-season hits record, breaking the previous mark of 140 set by Greg Porter in 2009 and Juan Richardson in 2011. Zach Nehrir followed with an RBI single to give Wichita (61-39) a 1-0 lead.
Sioux City (71-29) answered back with a run of their own in the second, courtesy of a two-out, run-scoring single from Dylan Kelly. From the third inning on, however, Wingnuts starter Tyler Kane (7-3) was excellent, allowing just five hits and one walk to secure his 21st career Wingnuts win.
Wichita's offense came to life in the third. Nick Rotola cranked his first professional home run to lead off the frame, pushing the Wingnuts back in front. Watkins then tripled down the right field line and came in to score on a Nehrir sacrifice fly for a 3-1 advantage. The Watkins triple was his 11th of the season, setting a Wingnuts single-season record.
Chase Simpson provided the game's final run in the bottom of the eighth, singling through the right side to drive home Abel Nieves.
Rookie Steve Pastora fired a scoreless eighth, and Casey Harman came out of the Wingnuts bullpen in the ninth to record his first save of the season by setting the Explorers down in order.
The Wingnuts end the year with 61 regular season victories for the third consecutive campaign, but fall short of the playoffs for the first time since the 2010 season. Sioux City will take on the Kansas City T-Bones in the first round of the American Association Postseason, beginning on Tuesday night.
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American Association Stories from September 3, 2018
- North Division Champion RailCats Announce North Division Series Schedule - Gary SouthShore Railcats
- Wingnuts Celebrate Final Game at Lawrence-Dumont with Win - Wichita Wingnuts
- RailCats Claim North Division with 3-2 Comeback Win vs. KC - Gary SouthShore Railcats
- Garrett Powers Canaries to Season-Ending Win - Sioux Falls Canaries
- RedHawks Finish 2018 Season with Loss to Canaries - Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks
- AirHogs Wrap 2018 Season, Thomas Named to All-Star Squad - Texas AirHogs
- Railroaders Sweep Final Series of Year - Cleburne Railroaders
- Tickets Now on Sale as Saints Will Host First Two Games of North Division Series on Tuesday and Wednesday - St. Paul Saints
- Cunningham Named All-Star; Host Playoffs Tuesday & Wednesday - Kansas City Monarchs
- Sermo and Garcia Sweep Weekly Awards - Sioux City Explorers
- Perfect 10: Saints Win Season Finale, Wait to See If They Are Division Champs - St. Paul Saints
- Saltdogs Washed out in Season Finale - Lincoln Saltdogs
- Mazzola Reaches Career Milestone, Goldeyes Fall to Saints - Winnipeg Goldeyes
- Curt Smith Chosen as a Postseason All-Star - Lincoln Saltdogs
- Lang, Samson and Sermo Named All-Stars - Sioux City Explorers
- First Baseman Brady Shoemaker and Catcher Justin O'Conner Represent Playoff Bound Saints as Post-Season All-Stars - St. Paul Saints
- Banwart, Tillman, Watkins Snag Postseason Honors - Wichita Wingnuts
- AirHogs Drop Penultimate Game of 2018 - Texas AirHogs
- T-Bones Clinch Playoff Spot; Defeat Gary in 16 Innings - Kansas City Monarchs
- American Association Game Recaps - AA
- De Leon's Herculean Relief Outing Not Enough in 16-Inning, 3-2 Loss - Gary SouthShore Railcats
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