KENOSHA, Wis. – The Kenosha Kingfish (22-16, 0-3) fell to the Fond du Lac Dock Spiders (18-21, 2-1) on Friday night by a score of 6-3 at Historic Simmons Field. The game included a 33 minute rain delay in the top of the sixth inning.
The Dock Spiders got their offense of the day rolling against left-handed Kingfish starter Zach Stromberg (Boston College) in the second inning, beginning with a leadoff double by first baseman Luke Mangieri (Bradley). Fond du Lac totaled three hits in the inning, but scored their lone run of the frame on a sacrifice fly by left fielder Eric Gilgenbach (Notre Dame).
Stromberg settled in following the second, shutting out the Dock Spiders over the next three frames and was rewarded by his offense by a big fifth inning. With one out, the Kingfish loaded the bases on two walks and a single, setting the stage for a two-run single down the right field line by designated hitter Jesse Wilkening (Nebraska). The Kingfish scored a third run on a wild pitch, and exited the inning with a 3-1 lead.
Unfortunately for Kenosha, that lead was short-lived. The Dock Spiders began the sixth inning with a single and an error, setting up runners at second and third with no outs. Center fielder Joe Breaux (McLennan CC) then came in and chopped a single over the first baseman’s head to push across two runs. Those tying runs came just ahead of the rain delay, and when the two teams returned to the field, Fond du Lac scored the go-ahead run on another error.
The Dock Spiders added a pair of insurance runs in the seventh inning, while reliever Colton Neel (Memphis) shut down the Kenosha bats over four innings of two-hit shutout baseball.
Stromberg finished with five innings pitched and one run allowed on five hits, one walk and four strikeouts. Ryan Van Leeuwen (Weatherford College) shut out Fond du Lac over the final two innings of the game.
Wilkening finished the game 2-for-4 with two RBI’s, while third baseman Tim Millard (Dallas Baptist) finished 1-for-3 with a double and a walk. Shortstop Ben Troike (Illinois) pitched in two walks and a run scored.
The Kingfish will meet up with the Dock Spiders again on Saturday, with game time set for 6:35p.m.
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The Kenosha Kingfish are a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwoods League. The 23-year-old summer collegiate league is the largest organized baseball league in the world with 20 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 170 former Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including two-time Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer (WAS), two-time World Series Champion Ben Zobrist (CHC) and MLB All-Stars Chris Sale (BOS), Jordan Zimmermann (DET), Curtis Granderson (NYM) and Lucas Duda (NYM). All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League portal. For more information, visit www.kingfishbaseball.com or download the new Northwoods League Mobile App on the Apple App Store or on Google Play and set the Kingfish as your favorite team.
