Photo Courtesy: Amy Ackerman
FOND DU LAC, WI – The Dock Spiders brought their bats with them to Kapco park for the doubleheader against the Lakeshore Chinooks as they scored 12 runs over the two games to sweep the Chinooks. Game one got off to a fast start for the Dock Spiders as they scored five runs in the first three innings. An RBI single from Teddy Deters (Xavier) brought Travis Strickler (Embry Riddle Aeronautical) into score, which made the score 1-0. In the top of the second inning a groundout from centerfielder Jared Heinzen (Wisconsin-Parkside) scored Seth Sweet-Chick (Nevada), which gifted the Dock Spiders a 2-0 lead and they weren’t done yet. Another RBI single from Teddy Deters brought home Strickler and Luke Novitske (Cal State East Bay) which made it a 4-0 Dock Spiders advantage.
The offense went right back to work in the third inning as Dock Spider newcomer Graiden West (Rice) doubled into right field for his first hit as Dock Spider and then later scored on an error by the Chinooks Shortstop Gabe Roessler (Madison College). The Dock Spiders were able to hold the Chinooks offense at bay until the bottom of the sixth inning where the Chinooks scored a run, cutting into the Dock Spiders lead. The bottom of the eighth was what brought a heart attack to the team. The Chinooks scored four runs in the bottom of the eighth after a few well-placed hits and made the game interesting but eventually right-handed reliever Zach Silfies (Elizabethtown College) shut down the comeback attempt and gave the Dock Spiders a 6-5 win.
After a layover in between games, the Dock Spiders kept the bats going as they jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in game two. They capitalized on a throwing error by the Chinooks Josh Overbeek (Cisco Junior College) which allowed Deters to score, then in the top of the fourth, shortstop Jacob Anderson rocketed an RBI single into the outfield that brought Sweet-Chick into score. The Dock Spiders added another run in the top of the seventh but once again, late inning blunders led to opponents scoring as the Chinooks put up four runs in the bottom of the seventh, taking the lead from the Dock Spiders. However, they got the lead right back as they scored three runs in the final two innings to close out game two. With the two wins today, the Dock Spiders are now on a three game win streak and have moved out of the sixth spot in the Great Lakes West Division as they now sit at 9-15 on the season and will look for their fourth straight win on Thursday night at home against the Wisconsin Rapids Rafters. First pitch is slated for 6:35 P.M.
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. Now in its’ 30th season, the Northwoods League is the largest organized baseball league in the world with 24 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 325 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.