Photo Courtesy: Ava Schiffert
FOND DU LAC, WI – Everything was going according to plan for the Dock Spiders Saturday night in Wausau. Starting pitcher Amar Tsengeg (UT Dallas) was pitching a great game holding a high-powered Woodchucks offense to just one run in four innings pitched. The Dock Spiders offense once again responded to the bell after surrendering a run in the bottom of the second inning, A walk from second basemen Jack Gorman (Presbyterian) who stole second base and then advanced to third on a wild throw down set the table for Dock Spiders catcher Lorenzo Rios (Presbyterian) to bring a run in.
Rios did exactly that as he lined a single through the left side of the infield to score his fellow Blue Hose teammate Gorman to tie the game at one a piece. Tsengeg’s pitch count starting to become too much in the fourth inning and was taken out to start the fifth inning after walking the first two batters he faced. Left-handed pitcher Zachary Gaudreau was called upon out of the bullpen. Gaudreau made it through the bottom of the fifth without giving up any runs. Then the bottom of the fifth happened.
The Woodchucks were standing atop of a big hill with a tiny snowball, and they pushed it down the hill. Woodchucks Right fielder Drew Berkland (Minnesota) caught an inside fastball that he drove all the way over the left field wall for a solo home run that started to make the snowball bigger as the Woodchucks took a 2-1 lead. Gaudreau punched out the next two Woodchucks he faced, but a walk issued to first basemen Jake Baker (Kansas) extended the inning and catcher Drew Stengren (Central Michigan) made the Dock Spiders pay as he launched a two run home run over the left field wall to give the chucks a 4-1 lead.
The Dock Spiders answered with a run in the top of the seventh after a wild pitch to left fielder Jared Heinzen brought Jack Gorman in to score, which made it a 4-2 ballgame. The bottom of the seventh was a lot like the bottom of the sixth as the Woodchucks struck pay dirt again tallying five runs by ambushing Dock Spiders right-handed pitcher Tyler Banks (Butler). Heading into the eighth inning it was a 9-2 ballgame and the Woodchucks weren’t done yet. A double from left fielder Brady Jurgella (Minnesota) brought centerfielder Dalton Pearson (Georgia State) into score which pushed the chucks advantage to 10-2. The final run happened on a groundout to shortstop Jacob Anderson (Michigan State), that scored Jurgella. Both teams will be back in action Sunday afternoon on Father’s day at Herr-Baker Field. First pitch is slated for 1:05 PM.
The Fond du Lac Dock Spiders 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 recently completed its’ 29th 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 300 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 (NYM), 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 2019/2021 Home Run Derby Champion Pete Alonso (NYM) and 2021 All-Star, MLB Gold Glove winner and 2019 Second Team All-MLB shortstop Marcus Semien (TEX). All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League website. League games are viewable live at watchnwl.com and on ESPN+. For more information, visit dockspiders.com or download the new Northwoods League Mobile App on the Apple App Store or on Google Play and set the Dock Spiders as your favorite team.
