La Crosse, Wis – Looking to take sole possession of second place in the South Division, the Kingfish travel to western Wisconsin tonight to battle with the La Crosse Loggers. Kenosha currently sits a half game up on La Crosse, in part due to 3-2 victory over their cross-state rival earlier this week. First pitch this evening is slated for 6:05pm.
Taking the ball tonight for manager Duffy Dyer is right-hander Steven Klimek. The sophomore from St. Bonaventure has been used in a variety of roles for Kenosha, but has shown an ability to fan opposing batters in any scenario. He currently has 23 strike outs in just 23.1 IP. The Loggers will also send a righty to the mound in Adam Cline. Cline (2-3) showed vulnerability in his last outing, allowing five runs in 5.1 innings against Battle Creek.
King Elvis’ crew has owed much of its recent success to strong performances at the plate. The team currently sits fifth in the NWL in runs per game, as well as fourth in both runs and home runs. Kenosha has been carried by the league’s most dominant hitter, LF Pat Porter (.317, 53 H, 9 HR, 47 RBI, 37 R). Porter currently ranks in the NWL’s top two in; runs scored, doubles, triples, home runs, and runs batted in. Other key contributors have been 2B Chris Godinez, IF Alex Dunlap, and OF Taylor Douglas. Godinez has notched a team-high .344 BA, while notching multiple hits in five of his last six games. Dunlap has hit a staggering .458 in the past week, while Douglas’ 15 stolen bases are good for fourth in the NWL.
Last night Kenosha took down the Wisconsin Woodchucks in Wausau by a count of 7-2. The victory resulted from an early barrage by the Kingfish lineup, as it put six runs on the board in the first three frames. The first inning was highlighted by a 2-out, 2-RBI single from 1B Zach Ratcliff, scoring 2B Alex Borglin and C Alex Dunlap. Things continued in the second when 3B Spencer Gaa and SS Kyle Brooks came around as a result of Borglin and Dunlap hits. Brooks did more damage in the third, sending a solo shot over the Athletic Field wall. The six run cushion would be more than enough for the Kingfish pitching trio of Trevor Haas, E.J. Trapino, and P.J. Schuster. The pitchers failed to allow an earned run on the evening, striking out ten in the process. Schuster has now yielded just two earned runs in his last 16 innings of work.
The Kingfish will take on the Loggers once again tomorrow before traveling to Michigan to take on the Battle Creek Bombers. The team’s next home date will be Thu, July 17th as the club celebrates “What If Night” presented by Snap-On.
The Kingfish office is located at 7817 Sheridan Road and is open from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on Saturday. For more information on 7-game packs, season or group tickets, please log on to kingfishbaseball.com or call 262.653.0900.
