Published On: June 24th, 2021

Waterloo’s eight runs too much for Duluth comeback

 

Matthew Hargrove, matthewhargrove0834@gmail.com

Duluth, Minnesota – Second baseman Ambren Voitik flew out to center field with two outs and the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth inning that saved the Bucks with an 8-5 victory. All five runs from the Huskies were scored in the ninth inning. Harrison Durrow was electric for the Bucks, tossing seven strikeouts over 6.1 innings of shutout ball.

Huskies starting pitcher Caden Griffin had one of his better outings of the year for his squad, allowing four runs over 4.1 innings of work. Eli Sundquist entered the game for Griffin in the fifth inning, keeping Duluth in the game with his 2.2 shutout innings. Things went all downhill from there in the eighth inning. Tony Cortez entered the game for his third appearance of the season, in which his command gave way allowing four runs on two walks and two hits. Ray Watt had to come in for Cortez to finish the eighth, and eventually the ballgame for the Huskies.

Despite the eight run deficit, Duluth showed fight in the bottom of the ninth with a surge that fell just short of the magic number. The Huskies put up their first four runs with a two RBI single from ceterfield Kimo Fukofuka, and a two RBI double from shortstop Michael Brooks. A couple of batters later, catcher Ryan McDonald walked with the bases loaded to bring the winning run to the plate in Voitik. Waterloo head coach was forced to go to the pen against one of the better hitters in the league, calling on Brycen Mautz from the University of San Diego. Voitik swung at the first offering from Mautz, which ended up sailing into the glove of centerfielder Chris Seng in deep center field to end the game at 8-5.

Game two is set for a 6:35 p.m. first pitch, in which Husky fans will get to see Ronnie Voacolo for the first time on the bump at Wade Stadium. Voacolo’s first appearance for Duluth came last Friday at Waterloo, where the University of Southeastern prodigy gave up just two runs over six innings of work. The righty also tagged three strikeouts and two walks to his outing.

 

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The Duluth Huskies are a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwoods League. The Northwoods League is the proven leader in the development of elite college baseball players. Having completed its’ 27th season, the Northwoods League is the largest organized baseball league in the world with 22 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, over 250 Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including three-time All-Star and 2016 Roberto Clemente Award winner Curtis Granderson, three-time Cy Young Award winner and World Series Champion Max Scherzer (WAS), two-time World Series Champions Ben Zobrist and Brandon Crawford (SFG) and World Series Champion Chris Sale (BOS). As well as 2019 Rookie of the Year and Home Run Derby Champion Pete Alonso (NYM) and MLB Gold Glove finalist and 2019 Second Team All-MLB shortstop Marcus Semien (TOR). All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League website. All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League portal. For more information, visit www.duluthhuskies.com or download the new Northwoods League Mobile App on the Apple App Store or on Google Play and set the Huskies as your favorite team.

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