By Nick Winstead

Battle Creek, Mich.—The Kenosha Kingfish came into C.O. Brown Stadium riding a three game winning streak but the Bombers were not about to let that get to four. The Bombers had an early lead and then sealed the deal with a seven run fourth allowing their pitching to take over for a 12-1 victory.

It was Jacob Waguespack (Ole Miss) on the hill for the Bombers. The NWL All-Star gave off a lead-off double but settled in nicely, giving up just one run over five and a third while striking out six.

“I was just trying to get strike one, getting ahead of the hitters and keeping them off-balance” said Wags following the win, his first of the year.

When asked about his first win of the year Wags flashed a quick grin and replied that “I’ve said before that stats don’t matter, but when you get the first one it feels awesome.”

His job was made easier through the fact that the Bombers jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the first and then tacked on seven more in the 4^th.

“The guys did a great job behind me and put up a lot of runs” commented Wags.

All of the runs scored in the 4^th were done so with two outs, showing the plate discipline of the Bombers as well as their aggressive mindset at the plate. It all started with a walk to Colby Bortles (Ole Miss) to lead off the bottom of the fourth. After two outs the Kingfish walked the bases loaded and then Spencer Thornton (San Diego State) earned an RBI walk to put the Bombers up 3-1. 

Conor Panas (Canisius College) came to the plate and ripped a line-drive up the middle to plate two. Conor finished the day 3-4, with a double, two RBIs, and three runs scored.

“I was just trying to stay calm at the plate” said Panas of his approach when hitting. Panas took what the Kingfish were giving him and made them pay all night long.

Not to be out done by Panas, Henri Lartigue (Ole Miss) came to the plate with the bases loaded following a Matt Dacey (Richmond) walk and hit a bases-clearing triple essentially sealing the game for the Bombers.

The Bombers would keep their run producing going, plating a total of twelve runs on twelve hits. Dillion Engle (College of Lake County) and Jordan Grosjean (Central Michigan) had mop-up duty, and continued the dominance of their starter Waguespack, walking just one batter each while fanning a combined six Kingfish.

The Bombers will attempt to sweep the Kingfish for the second time this season, 7:05 first pitch.

Game Notes:

WP: Jacob Waguespack (1-2) 5.1 IP, 6 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 6 K.

Spencer Thornton: 2-3, 2 BB, 3 R.

Conor Panas: 3-4, 2B, BB, 2 RBI, 3 R.

Henri Lartigue: 2-5, 3B, 4 RBI, 1 R.

Colby Bortles: 1-2, 2 RBI, 3 BB, 1 R.

The Battle Creek Bombers are a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwoods League. Playing its 21st season of summer collegiate baseball, the Northwoods League is the largest organized baseball league in the world with 18 teams, drawing significantly more fans, in a friendly ballpark experience, than any league of its kind. A valuable training ground for coaches, umpires and front office staff, more than 115 Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer (DET) and MLB All-Stars Chris Sale (CWS), Jordan Zimmermann (WAS), Curtis Granderson (NYM), Allen Craig (STL) and Ben Zobrist (TB). For more information, visit http://www.battlecreekbombers.com