Mequon, WI – It took a late inning comeback, but the Lakeshore Chinooks were able to get their elusive first home win of the season.

Entering the eighth inning trailing 4-1, the Chinooks tagged Rivets relief pitcher JT Baksha for three runs to even the game. After Takahiro Yamada was hit by a pitch and Sebastian Holte-Mancera singled to put two runners on, Connor Kimple doubled to score the first run. With runners on second and third, Luke Mangieri put a shallow fly ball to left field. Rivets outfielder Ryan Cole, made a throw to home, put it airmailed over the catcher’s head and allowed a second run to score. Then Jake Thompson ripped a triple to right field to tie the game at four.

Chinooks manager Travis Akre decided to use his bench entering the bottom of the ninth and it paid off. Cole Turney stepped up to bat against Rivets pitcher Anthony Holubecki and took the first pitch for a ball. The second pitch was exactly where Turney wanted it. He turned on it and lifted a rocket to right field that was no doubt a home run to win the game for the Chinooks 5-4.

For the Rivets, starting pitcher Jackson Bronke pitched a strong five innings only giving up one run. The Heartland product struck out six Chinooks and only allowed two hits with two walks as well. Lakeshore was only able to score off a DJ Lee triple in the third inning but otherwise struggled to get much of an offense going against the right-hander.

Rockford was able to find success against Chinooks starter Trent Johnson, scoring four runs against the right-hander. The Rivets were able to put together a three run second inning with RBI singles from Tim Lilly, Brennan Reback, and Ryan Cole. The Rivets added one more in the fourth off of Johnson after designated hitter Brock Martin tripled to lead off the inning. He then scored on a pitch that got away from Chinooks catcher Dallas Beaver increasing Rockford’s lead to 4-1.

In the fifth, Rockford had put runners on second and third with two outs against Johnson, who was lifted for left-hander Kyle Huckaby. The threat was ended though as Huckaby struck out the next batter to end the inning.

Huckaby was a bright spot for the Chinooks, giving Lakeshore three and third shutdown innings. He only gave up one hit and a walk, while striking out two. The bullpen performance kept the Chinooks in the game and allowed them to make the comeback they later did.

Layne Looney pitched the ninth for the Chinooks and picked up the win after giving up a hit but striking out two. The loss on the day goes to Holubecki for the Rivets.

The Chinooks will travel to Battle Creek for a two game road trip against the Bombers. First pitch for tomorrow’s game will be at 6:05 pm. Lakeshore will return home on Wednesday for an 11:35 am game against Green Bay.

The Lakeshore Chinooks are a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwoods League. Now in its 25th anniversary season, the Northwoods 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 190 former Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including three-time Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer (WAS), two-time World Series Champions Ben Zobrist (CHC) and Brandon Crawford (SFG) and MLB All-Stars Chris Sale (BOS), Jordan Zimmermann (DET) and Curtis Granderson (TOR).  All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League portal. For more information, visit www.lakeshorechinooks.com or download the new Northwoods League Mobile App on the Apple App Store or on Google Play and set the Chinooks as your favorite team.