LA CROSSE, WI – There is celebration tonight in La Crosse as the Loggers have stayed alive in the Northwoods League Playoffs and advanced to the Great Plains Championship game after beating Eau Claire 6-2 on Monday night.
Logger starter Brendan Moody was terrific, going seven innings strong with four hits, no runs, three walks and five strikeouts. Moody would allow five baserunners into scoring position, but strand them every time.
The Loggers scored first in the bottom of the second. A single by Danny Neri and a double by Matthew Piotrowski would put runners on second and third. Ethan Frey would then send a single to left field, bringing Neri home. Aidan Sweatt would then lay down a bunt single that brought home Piotrowski from third. Scoring would continue into the next inning. Ben Zeigler-Namoa would walk after two outs before Brandon Fields sent a no-doubter to left field. Copeland Park had gone wild as the Loggers pushed the score to 4-0. Later in the inning, another run would score on an RBI single by Ethan Frey.
Excellent Logger pitching propelled the game into the eighth inning. The Express would get their first run of the game on a walk with the bases loaded. In the top of the ninth, Logger pitcher Carter Foss would walk the bases loaded with one out, making the game a bit more dicey than anyone had expected. Ryan Nagelbach would ground out to second base, allowing a run to score for the Express, but also providing the penultimate out. Foss would face Marcus Cline in the biggest at-bat of the game. On a full count, Foss painted the corner of the strike zone to strike out Cline looking. The Loggers had won 6-2 and had won their first home playoff game since 2012.
The Eau Claire Express end their season after going 20-14 in the first half and 36-31 overall. Express fans should be proud after watching their team’s great first half and ability to fight in the postseason. With the win, the Loggers will travel to St. Cloud to face the Rox for the Great Plains Division Championship. The Rox upset the Willmar Stingers late on Monday after beating them on Sunday. The Loggers are 2-6 against the Rox this season, but are playing hot right now. You will not want to miss any of the upcoming action. We aren’t done yet!
