KENOSHA, Wis. – The Kenosha Kingfish (16-9) defeated the Wisconsin Woodchucks (9-15) by a score of 10-4 in front of a packed Friday crowd at Historic Simmons Field tonight. The 10 runs matched a season-high for Kenosha, who last scored 10 runs against the Green Bay Bullfrogs on June 2nd.
It was an offensive explosion unlike any game the Kingfish have played this season, as the team also set a season high with 14 hits. Through the first four innings of the game, though, the game had a much different feel. Though Kenosha loaded the bases in the first inning, it did not score, and would send just nine men to the plate over the next three innings.
Then, in the fifth inning, the lineup abruptly created chaos. With two outs in the frame, the Kingfish strung together six consecutive hits, the first three of which were doubles and the fourth of which was a triple. Four runs scored in the inning, and the Kingfish jumped ahead 4-1.
They were far from finished. The sixth inning saw more of the same, with Kenosha stringing together four consecutive one-out hits including one more double, all four of which came home to score. The most deafening blow of the game was achieved with two outs, however, when first baseman Derek Bangert (Bradley) crushed his team-high fifth home run of the season to right-center field to score two more runs and make it 9-1 Kingfish.
The Woodchucks mustered three runs in the top of the seventh inning, but wouldn’t draw any closer.
Right-hander Colan Treml (UW-Oshkosh) was more dominant on the evening than his final line would show, as he pitched six innings and allowed four runs, three earned, on five hits and a walk while striking out four. Righty Justin Hasek (Galveston CC) earned a save with three innings of relief work out of the bullpen, in which he shut out Wisconsin on two hits and struck out one.
Bangert went 2-for-4 with a walk, a homer and drove in three in this one, giving him a team-high 23 RBI’s. Centerfielder Connor Doyle (University of San Diego) went 3-for-5 with a double, an RBI and three runs scored, and Chris Botsoe (Iowa Central CC) went 2-for-3 with a walk, a double, three RBI’s and a stolen base.
Right fielder Jack Yalowitz (Illinois) and catcher Jesse Wilkening (Nebraska) each finished 2-for-4 with a double each and combined for three RBI’s. Finally, designated hitter Cameron Comer (Virginia) continued his hot start to the summer went 1-for-3 with a pair of walks.
The Kingfish will go for a fourth straight win on Saturday, and will host a Miller Light fireworks show after the game. Game time against Wisconsin is set for 6:35p.m.
###
The Kenosha Kingfish are a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwoods League. The 23-year-old summer collegiate league is the largest organized baseball league in the world with 20 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, more than 170 former Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including two-time Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer (WAS), two-time World Series Champion Ben Zobrist (CHC) and MLB All-Stars Chris Sale (BOS), Jordan Zimmermann (DET), Curtis Granderson (NYM) and Lucas Duda (NYM). All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League portal. For more information, visit www.kingfishbaseball.com or download the new Northwoods League Mobile App on the Apple App Store or on Google Play and set the Kingfish as your favorite team.
