KENOSHA, WI – The Kenosha Kingfish earned an 8-4 win against the Waterloo Bucks during their 2024 home opener.
Unlike the first four games, the Kingfish exploded in the first inning, tallying four runs off of Waterloo starter Xzavier Vargas. After the first two batters reached on a walk and hit-by-pitch, Brandon Nigh ripped a single to center to get the scoring started. Noah Jouras followed with a two-run triple down the right-field line. Justin Hausser would drive in Jouras with a single to center, making it 4-0 without recording an out.
Offenses stalled the next few innings courtesy of some quality starting pitching, including Kingfish righty Hudson Calhoun. Through the first four innings, Calhoun surrendered just two hits with three strikeouts.
The Fish added to their lead in the bottom of the fourth thanks to a two-run homer by Robert Newland; this was the first homer of the year for the team.
Calhoun would then retire the side to finish his outing through five innings. Karter Wong would extend the lead to 7-0 with an RBI single, scoring Hausser in the bottom of the inning.
Santino Pignotti-Wojtak would enter the game in the sixth striking out two of the three batters faced.
It took til the seventh inning for the Bucks to produce any offense as they plated two runs on a sacrifice fly by Adam Benes and an RBI single by Archer Osbourne.
Thankfully for the Fish, Waterloo left fielder Luke Finn overran a fly ball that fell for an RBI single for Maxim Fullerton in the bottom of the seventh, extending the lead to 8-2.
Waterloo continued to fight in the eighth after adding two more runs, including an RBI single by Zachary Mazoch.
Colin Hawkins would collect the final four outs out of the bullpen to give the Kingfish their fourth win of the year, and adding a fifth loss to the winless Bucks.
The Kingfish battle the Bucks again tomorrow night at 6.35 p.m. CT at Historic Simmons Field. Follow @KenoshaKingfish on X or watch the game on NWL+ for updates.
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The Kenosha Kingfish 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 345 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 two-time 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 and Silver Slugger winner and two-time All-MLB first team shortstop Marcus Semien (TEX). All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League website at watchnwl.com and on ESPN+. For more information, visit www.northwoodsleague.com or download the Northwoods League Mobile App on the Apple App Store or on Google Play.
