By John Baldridge/Fond du Lac Dock Spiders

MEQUON, WI – The Dock Spiders dropped the final game of their four-game stretch against Lakeshore on Thursday, losing 13-9. A nine-run sixth inning propelled the Chinooks to victory over the Dock Spiders.

Both teams got on the scoreboard in the third inning. The Dock Spiders scored first with a sacrifice fly in the top of the inning. Lakeshore responded with their own sacrifice fly in the bottom half, tying the game at 1-1.

The Dock Spiders regained the lead in the top of the fourth inning. Tyler Neises (Georgia Tech) hit a single that brought in Travis Strickler (Embry-Riddle), making the score 2-1. However, Lakeshore answered in the bottom of the fourth. After loading the bases, Vidal Colon (University of Illinois at Chicago) was hit by a pitch to tie the game. The next batter, Griffin Cameron (Kentucky), hit a sacrifice fly to left field, bringing home another run and giving Lakeshore a 3-2 lead.

In the fifth inning, the Dock Spiders surged back into the lead by scoring three runs. Drew Barragan (Embry-Riddle) hit an RBI single, followed by Adam Cootway (UW-Whitewater), who drove in two more runs with a single, putting the Dock Spiders ahead 5-3. Lakeshore added one run in the bottom of the fifth, narrowing the score to 5-4.

The game’s momentum shifted in the bottom of the sixth inning. The Chinooks sent 12 batters to the plate and scored nine runs. The inning included four walks, two singles, a double, a hit-by-pitch, and a solo home run by Ethan Hindle (Kentucky), culminating in a 13-5 lead.

The Dock Spiders fought back in the seventh inning, scoring three runs to cut the deficit to 13-8. Parker Knoll (Lawrence) highlighted the inning with a double that brought in two runs.

In the ninth inning, the Dock Spiders added one more run with a two-out hit from Caden Shapiro, which scored Travis Strickler. However, Shapiro was thrown out trying to stretch his hit into a double, ending the game and securing the 13-9 victory for Lakeshore.

The Dock Spiders now head to Wausau for the first of two games on Friday, with the first pitch scheduled for 6:35 p.m. They will play their next four games on the road before returning home next Tuesday to face Madison. Ladies on Tuesday night, can plan on additional ticket and drink offers at the ballpark courtesy of Quest Interiors. Plus, all fans can enjoy live music by D. Willy and the Souvenirs before and after the game! Additional Tuesday, is Bang For Your Buck with 107.1 The Bull – Enjoy hot dogs, 16 oz. Pepsi products, and 16 oz. domestic draft beers (for those of legal drinking age) for $2 each.

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. Entering its’ 31st season, the Northwoods League is the largest organized baseball league in the world with 26 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 350 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 (TEX), two-time World Series Champions Ben Zobrist and Brandon Crawford (STL) and World Series Champion Chris Sale (ATL). As well as 2019 Rookie of the Year and 2019/2021 Home Run Derby Champion Pete Alonso (NYM) and 2023 World Series Champion, 2021 and 2023 All-Star, MLB Gold Glove winner, and two-time All-MLB first-team 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