By John Baldridge/Fond du Lac Dock Spiders
FOND DU LAC, WI – The Fond du Lac Dock Spiders secured their fourth consecutive win on Saturday night at Herr-Baker Field, closing out the season with a 12-6 victory over the Lakeshore Chinooks. The Dock Spiders finished the season with a 29-40 overall record and a 16-20 mark in the second half.
Lakeshore opened the scoring in the third inning when a double to right field by Ethan Hindle (Kentucky) put runners on second and third with one out. A groundout to second base by Ethan Brown (Dartmouth) brought in a run from third, making the score 1-0. In the bottom half of the inning, the Dock Spiders took their first lead. After loading the bases to start the inning, a wild pitch allowed Gus Walker (Marian) to score the tying run. The next batter, Preston Knott (Northwestern), singled to right field, bringing in two more runs to make the score 3-1. Aiden Jolley (Georgia Tech) then singled to center field, driving in the fourth run of the inning and extending the lead to 4-1.
In the top of the fourth inning, Lakeshore cut the deficit to 4-2. With runners on first and third and two outs, Griffin Cameron (Kentucky) singled to score a run.
The Chinooks got closer in the sixth inning when Max Pederson (Winona State) singled to left field, driving in a run and making the score 4-3.
The Dock Spiders responded with a big bottom of the sixth inning, bringing nine batters to the plate and scoring five runs on five hits, two errors, and a walk. The inning was highlighted by RBI singles from Drew Howard (Evansville), Caden Shapiro (Princeton), and Drew Barragan (Embry-Riddle), extending the Dock Spiders’ lead to 9-3.
Lakeshore answered with two runs in the seventh inning when Ty Wisdom (Kansas) doubled to right field, scoring two and making the score 9-5.
The Dock Spiders added three more runs in the bottom of the eighth inning. Caden Shapiro (Princeton) doubled to drive in one run, and Adam Cootway (UW-Whitewater) followed with a double of his own, scoring two more to make it 12-5.
In the ninth inning, Lakeshore managed to score one final run on a wild pitch, but RHP Colton Angell (Southeastern CC) induced a 6-4-3 double play to end the game and the Dock Spiders’ season with a 12-6 victory.
The Dock Spiders finished the season on a high note, winning their last four games and closing with a 29-40 overall record.
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’ 31st season, the Northwoods League is the largest organized baseball league in history 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, 360 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, MLB All-Star, MLB Gold Glove winner and two-time All-MLB first team shortstop Marcus Semien (TEX). League games are viewable live on Northwoods League+ (at watch.northwoodsleague.com), ESPN+, and the Northwoods League Network. Learn more and find complete streaming schedules at watchnwl.com. 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.