Kenosha, Wisc.- For the second straight night, La Crosse fell to the defening Northwoods League Champion Kingfish in extra innings, this time 7-6.
The Loggers matched up against the Kingfish again tonight after a tough 4-3 extra inning loss on opening day last night in Kenosha. La Crosse tried to avoid being swept in their opening series for the first time since 2011. A 2015 Logger starter Alex Shake (Illinois Central) took the mound for La Crosse against Alex Hamilton (Eastern Kentucky) for Kenosha.
The Kingfish got off to another early start. In the 1st inning, Kian O’Brien (Madison College), who hit the game winner last night, doubled with a man on first and one out, scoring Matt Hearn (Misson). O’Brien stole third base, and shortly scored because of an error by Logger catcher Luis Trevino (Navarro). A two-out double by Nick Kanavas (Madison College) gave Kenosha a 3-0 lead.
Hamilton held La Crosse to held to a lone hit until the 5th inning. A leadoff walk by Randy Labaut (Arizona) sparked Logger offense. Brandon Larkin-Guilfoyle (Davenport) singled to put two men on with one out. Luke Farley (Iowa) took his opportunity to strike and brought in both runners.
Kenosha responded in the bottom of the 5th with three more runs on three hits and two defensive errors. Alex Shake could not make it out of the inning. He pitched 4.1 innings, walking three and striking out five.
J.R. Holloway (Texas State) relieved Hamilton in the 6th and held the Loggers scoreless for two innings, but La Crosse got to him in the 8th. Kevin Collard (San Diego) reached on an error to lead off the inning. He moved to third base on two wild pitches. A walk put two runners on Luis Trevino with one out. Luis singled in Collard for the first run of the inning. Brandon Larkin-Guilfoyle and Lorenzo Hampton Jr. (California) singled back-to-back, scoring three which tied the game at six a piece.
The score held tied for the rest of regulaton, sending the game into extras for the second straight night. The Loggers were once again scoreless in the top of the 10th, and got into trouble in the bottom half. Kenosha doubled and singled, putting runners at the corners with no one out. O’Brien grounded out, halting the runners and giving the defense some air.
The decision was made to intentionally walk Gunner McNeil, but Mitch Stalsburg (Winona State) was forced to pitch all four balls. With a 3-0 count, a balk was called on Stalsburg, scoring the winning run.
The Loggers committed five errors all together, which proved costly in the game. The mark is the second most all time by the team in a game. La Crosse had only six hits, but made up for that number by drawing ten walks off Kingfish pitching.
The loss drops La Crosse to 0-2 on the season. Come out to Copeland Park tomorrow night to see the Loggers for the first time at home against the defending North Division Champion St. Cloud Rox. Gates open at 6:00 with first pitch at 7:05.
If you can’t make it to the game, listen to the call on the Loggers Radio Network on Eagle 102.7 or on lacrosseloggers.com.