Photo Courtesy: Amy Ackerman
FOND DU LAC, WI – The Dock Spiders have started the second half of the season undefeated after they knocked off the Woodchucks 4-1 on Independence Day. Red, White, and Blue was seen scattered throughout the confines of Herr-Baker field on Tuesday afternoon as Dock Spiders starting pitcher Amar Tsengeg (Texas-Dallas) stood on the mound, ready to start the game. Tsengeg started the day strong as he struck out the first two Woodchucks he faced. Tsengeg repeated the same thing in the top of the second as he struck out two more Woodchucks. The Dock Spiders offense started to ramp up in the bottom of the third when left fielder Travis Strickler (Embry Riddle Aeronautical) and Teddy Deters (Xavier) laced singles into the outfield which helped set the table for right fielder Jared Heinzen (Wisconsin Parkside). Heinzen cracked a two RBI double into the left center field gap that scored Strickler and Deters which gave the Dock Spiders an early 2-0 lead. Tsengeg continued his strikeout train as he struck out two more Woodchucks in the top of the fourth and fifth innings. Tsengeg tallied a season high and team high 11 strikeouts while he held the Woodchucks to only three hits on the day. He was removed from the game in the top of the eighth inning as the Dock Spiders turned to closer Zach Silfies (Elizabethtown College). Silfies found himself with the bases loaded and walked Woodchucks shortstop Christian Mitchelle (Central Michigan) that scored catcher Drew Berkland (Minnesota) which sliced the Dock Spiders lead in half.
However, the Dock Spiders weren’t done on offense as they tallied two more runs in the bottom of the eighth after shortstop Jack Gorman (Presbyterian) cranked a two RBI single that scored designated hitter Parker Noland (Vanderbilt) and second basemen Jacob Anderson (Michigan State). With a 4-1 lead headed to the ninth inning, the Dock Spiders looked for three outs out of Silfies and they got them as a flyout to first basemen Teddy Deters ended the game which gave the Dock Spiders the 4-1 victory. Amar Tsengeg tallied his first win of the season and Woodchucks starting pitcher Brian Reinke (Richmond) received his first loss of the season. The Dock Spiders earned their first win of the second half of the season and are now 3-1 in the month of July. They will be back in action tomorrow night in Wausau as they take on the Woodchucks again. First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 P.M. They will return home on Thursday July 6, when they start a two-game series with the Traverse City Pit Spitters. Thursday night’s game is craft brews and brats’ night presented by Fox River Brewing Company and Sheboygan Sausage with 99.5 WPKR at Herr-Baker Field, enjoy Sheboygan brats for 3$ and fans of legal drinking age may enjoy 16 oz. craft beer for 3$ each. 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.