As the first weekend of the second half comes to a close, the St. Cloud Rox have pulled out to an early lead over the North, owning a 5-0 record. Kalamazoo defeated Green Bay in their series opener, registering the final two outs by way of outfield assists, throwing out two different runners at home. Kenosha continues to keep a rapid pace in the South, walking off against La Crosse, while Alexandria snapped Madison's unbeaten stretch, blowing out the Mallards at home.
Rochester 3, Thunder Bay 2
Thunder Bay broke the scoreless tie in the 7th inning, with two runs, however the Honkers responded with a three-run bottom half, taking the series opener. Rochester’s leadoff man Matt Fielder (Minnesota) provided all of the offense with a bases clearing double, knocking in all of his team’s runs. Starter Tyler Feyereisen (St. Thomas) broke his winless streak, which lasted an entire month, throwing seven strong innings, giving up a pair of runs on four hits while striking out five as he collected a well-deserved victory. Border Cats’ right fielder Joe Gellenbeck (Xavier) supplied all of the Thunder Bay offense with a two-RBI double in the 7th, as his team fell to 2-3 in the second half.
Waterloo 10, Willmar 1
The Bucks racked up twelve hits in the matinee, as they broke the Stingers’ six-game win streak, and improved to 2-3. Waterloo’s Mikal Hill (Winston-Salem State) and Jonah Bride (Neosho County C.C.) combined for five hits and four RBIs, as Bride provided a solid night in his Bucks debut. Starter Brian Drapeau (Long Island) tossed 5 1/3 innings, allowing a run on five hits, striking out a trio of Stingers. Willmar’s leadoff man Sean Beesley (Illinois State) added two hits, and was the only batter to touch home plate, as his team took their first loss of the new half.
Alexandria 15, Madison 8
In the interleague series opener, Alexandria scored all of their runs in the first three innings as they blew out the Mallards, advancing to a 3-2 record. Three different Blue Anchors batters recorded home runs as Matt Duce (Dallas Baptist), Kyle Richardson (Notre Dame), and Nehwon Norkeh (Angelo State) combined for a stellar ten RBIs altogether. Max Knutson (Nebraska) did not have his best start of the year, but held the Madison lineup in check, going five innings, allowing four runs on nine hits, while striking out three and improving to 4-2 on the year. Mallards’ leadoff man Anthony Gonsolin (St. Mary’s) continues his all-star caliber 2015 season, going 2-for-3, scoring three times and crushing his seventh home run of the year, as Madison officially recorded their first loss of the second half.
Kalamazoo 7, Green Bay 6
In one of the wildest finishes of 2015, the Growlers took home their series opener as they threw out two Bullfrog base runners out at the plate for the final two outs of the game, giving them their third win of the new half. Outfielders Marquise Gill (Eastern Michigan) and Kory Brown (Bowling Green) were tonight’s heroes for their team, picking up back-to-back outfield assists at the plate, preserving the Kalamazoo win. Reliever Derek Schneider (Western Michigan) collected his second consecutive victory, as he threw a scoreless 2 1/3 innings and struck out four. Green Bay’s right fielder Robb Paller (Columbia) went 3-for-5 with an RBI, as the Bullfrogs moved back to 2-3.
Mankato 15, Duluth 7
The MoonDogs scored runs in each of the first five innings of the game, jumping out to a 12-0 lead and cruising to their first victory of the second half. Mankato’s duo of Eric Schenck-Joblinske (Iowa) and Brinn Bell (St. Ambrose) combined for seven RBIs and four hits, as seven different MoonDog batters enjoyed multi-hit ballgames. Reece Eddins (Nebraska) registered his first victory, going six innings, giving up four runs, six hits and struck out four. Duluth’s T.J. Martin (Kansas) went 2-for-3, knocking in three RBIs in a substitute role, while the Huskies sit in an early tie for 5th place in the North.
St. Cloud 7, Eau Claire 1
St. Cloud remains unbeaten in the second half as they disposed of the Express, taking their road opener. Connor Crane (McNeese State) sparked the offense with three hits and three RBIs, and Jake Farr (Tennessee Tech) went 4-for-5 with an RBI. Collin Strall (LSU) tossed 3 1/3 innings of relief, allowing just one run as he stifled the Eau Claire offense, providing a solid effort out of the bullpen. Express center fielder Brady Burzynski (UW-Stout) gave the only form of offense in the contest, supplying an RBI single in the 8th inning, as Eau Claire remains winless in half number two.
Wisconsin Rapids 10, Wisconsin 9
The Rafters used a six-run 7th inning to take game one of their series opener against their rival Wisconsin Woodchucks. Catcher Alex Herceg (Keystone College) paced the offense with two hits and three RBIs, while center fielder Jake Sandlin (Georgia College) contributed a pair of hits, runs, and walked twice for the high-powered Wisconsin Rapids offense. New Rapids closer James Davitt (Bryant) came out of the pen and closed the door, registering his first save of the season. Two Chucks batters experienced two-homer nights as Max Ponzurick (Virginia Tech) and Albee Weiss (Cal State Northridge) each picked up their sixth and seventh home runs of the season, and combined for seven RBIs.
Lakeshore 4, Battle Creek 3
Scoring all of their runs in the 1st inning, the Chinooks held off the Bombers for a narrow victory, taking game one of their road series. Lakeshore’s shortstop Greg Deichmann (LSU) propelled his team to a win, going 1-for-4 with two RBIs. Deichmann’s college teammate Hunter Devall made his return to Battle Creek, as a former member of the 2013 Bombers, and tossed three innings in his start, however Nick Brown (Missouri State) took home his first win, tossing four strong innings of relief, giving up two runs (one earned) on just one hit and struck out a pair. Bombers’ Christian Helsel (Penn State) recorded his first home run of the year, as Battle Creek has begun the second half on a bad note, owning a 1-4 record.
Kenosha 5, La Crosse 4 (10 Innings)
The Kingfish crept into extras against the visiting Loggers in their series opener, but Nick Sergakis (Ohio State) provided the game-winner as he singled home Zach Weigel (Seton Hall), maintaining their lead over the South. Both Sergakis and Weigel combined for six hits a top the Kenosha lineup, contributing a pair of runs and RBIs on the night as well. Reliever Ryan Orr (Kalamazoo College) continued his dominance coming out of the bullpen, tossing three innings of relief, giving up a run on two hits, as he collected his second win of the year. Loggers leadoff man Mason McCoy (Illinois Central) added two hits to his league-best .376 batting average, adding an RBI, and a run scored as La Crosse fell back to 2-3 in the South Division.
Monday’s Schedule
Wisconsin @ Wisconsin Rapids 6:05/8:05 PM (Doubleheader)
Mankato @ Duluth 6:35 PM
St. Cloud @ Eau Claire 6:35 PM
Green Bay @ Kalamazoo 7:05 PM
Lakeshore @ Battle Creek 7:05 PM
Madison @ Alexandria 7:05 PM
Willmar @ Waterloo 7:05 PM
Thunder Bay @ Rochester 7:05 PM
La Crosse @ Kenosha 7:05 PM