KENOSHA, Wis. – The Kenosha Kingfish (35-32, 13-19) took home both games of a doubleheader against the Rockford Rivets (37-29, 20-12) on Monday, winning a pair of games at Historic Simmons Field by scores of 5-2 and 6-2. With the sweep, the Kingfish moved to a game and a half behind the Lakeshore Chinooks for the final playoff spot with five games remaining in the season.

Things appeared to be trending in the wrong direction for Kenosha in the first inning of game one, when right-handed starter Nick Long (Florida) allowed two runs to score on two hits, two walks and a hit-by-pitch. He left the bases loaded and threw 29 pitches, and looked to be in a situation that would force the Kingfish into a rough decision with their bullpen early.

That wasn’t the case, however, as Long settled in after that and began to methodically tear through the fearsome Rockford lineup. He held the Rivets scoreless over the next 4.2 innings, finishing with 5.2 innings of two-run baseball, with five hits allowed and four walks to go with five strikeouts.

Kenosha’s offense, meanwhile, caught the only break it needed in the bottom of the third inning. It began with back-to-back hits from shortstop Joe Campagna (Slippery Rock) and center fielder Connor Doyle (University of San Diego), followed by a walk to right fielder Jack Yalowitz (Illinois) and a bases-loaded hit-by-pitch to first baseman Derek Bangert (Bradley). Third baseman Connor Moroder (Illinois State) then smacked a 2-run single, giving the Kingfish their first lead of the day and providing the biggest swing of what would become a five-run third inning that decided the game.

Justin Hasek (Galveston CC) pitched the final 1.1 innings to nail down the save.

The Kingfish were ready with the bats again in game two, this time breaking out in the fourth inning. Second baseman Mike Madej (Purdue) walked with one out to start the rally, with Yalowitz singling behind him and Bangert drawing a walk to load the bases. Left fielder Nick Kanavas (Kent State) then lifted a double to the wall in left field to send home the game’s first two runs, and the Kingfish held a 2-run advantage.

The Rivets quickly tied the game back up, but Kenosha would rally again in the top of the seventh, with Doyle hitting an RBI single to center to regain a 3-2 lead. That was just the beginning, with Yalowitz following with a sacrifice fly and Bangert knocking a 2-run single to give the Kingfish the commanding 6-2 lead they’d finish with.

Long and Florida teammate Billy McKay each finished with wins on Monday in front of the Historic Simmons Field crowd.

Kanavas finished with two hits and three RBI’s in this game, while Bangert also drove in three runs on the evening.

The Kingfish will take a day off for the Major League Dreams Showcase on Tuesday before returning home for a third game against Rockford on Wednesday.

 

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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 180 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.greenbaybullfrogs.com or download the new Northwoods League Mobile App on the Apple App Store or on Google Play and set the Bullfrogs as your favorite team.