Jones had worked three perfect innings, striking out four and receiving fantastic defense behind him before Kenosha plated six runs in the top of the fourth. After a leadoff walk to Connor Doyle, and the first hit of the game to Mike Madej, Jones walked third baseman Will Wagner to load the bases with no one out. Charlie Harrigan grounded into a fielded choice to score the first run of the game. Then the hit parade began as the next three batters would single resulting in two more runs to cross the plate. After getting the second out of the inning, Jones hit catcher Evan McDonald which let another Kingfish runner to reach home. A two-out, two RBI double by Connor Doyle finished the day for Jones.
All in all, Jones gave up six runs on five hits, two walks, and one hit batter in three and two thirds innings.
For the Kingfish, starting pitcher Cale Cuddie only allowed one hit over five and two thirds scoreless innings but had to work out of a couple jams and get some help from his defense behind him. The UW-Stevens Point product shut down the Chinooks until the fourth inning when the Chinooks finally put a runner in scoring position. But a diving catch by shortstop Devin Ortiz and a quick flip over to second doubled up Sebastian Holte-Mancera to end any threat. In the sixth, a trio of walks loaded the bases and Cuddie was relieved in favor of left hander Jon Ostroff who promptly struck out Chinooks’ Cole Turney to end the inning.
The Chinooks, who hadn’t scored in fiftenn innings going back to Wednesday’s game in Kalamazoo, finally broke out scored four in the bottom of seven. Connor Kimple started the rally when he reached on an error by second baseman Neil Lambert. A couple of quick singles loaded the bases before outfielder DJ Lee drove in Kimple. Holte-Mancera drove in two more with his single which ended the day for Ostroff. Lakeshore got one more on a fielder’s choice after a double play attempt bounced off of baserunner Holte-Mancera and allowed Lee to cross the plate. Kenosha went to the bullpen and left hander Max Rimac got the last two outs to end Lakeshore’s chance.
Kenosha decided to answer the Chinooks and put five across the plate in the top of the eighth. They slapped six hits and batted around off of Lakeshore relievers Kyle Schmitt and James Wright IV to extend their lead back to eight runs and effectively end any chance of a Lakeshore comeback.
The Chinooks threatened in their half of the eighth but stranded the bases loaded. In the ninth, Lakeshore puts together a string of hits and scores three, with RBI from Kimple, Willie Beaver, and Jake Thompson, but ultimately leave the bases loaded again for the third time in the game. Lakeshore stranded fourteen runners in the game.
Lakeshore will take on the Rockford Rivets tomorrow evening at Kapco Park. First pitch at 6:35 pm.
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.
