June 2009
O’Neil’s 10th Inning Homer Gives Beetles Win
In the top of the 10th inning the Alexandria Beetles got their lead-off hitter on base but a fake bunt-swing resulted in a line drive double play. The inning looked bleak until Mike O'Neill (USC) stepped to the plate, drilling a pitch over the right-center field wall to put the Beetles up 3-2. They would hang on in the bottom half for the victory. O'Neill finished 2-5 on the night. It was the 3rd home run and 9th RBI of the season for the 5'9" Beetles lead-off hitter.
Burns Sparks Huskies
Andy Burns (Kentucky) propelled the Duluth Huskies over the Thunder Bay Border Cats Saturday night, 3-2. Burns stroked a lead-off double in the top of the ninth inning and scored on a sacrifice fly to give the Huskies the win. Burns hit a sacrifice fly of his own to score a run and finished 2-4 with the run scored and RBI.
McClain Muscles Mallards to Victory
Adam McClain (Memphis) had a couple big at-bats late in the game Friday that ended when he muscled a grand slam over the left field wall at the Duck Pond. Rochester's Rance Roundy (UNLV) also had a night that is very worthy of mention.
Riggins Continues to Rake
Harold Riggins (NC State) becomes the first two-time Northwoods League Player of the Night of the season after putting together another big game at the Duck Pond.
Fick Leads MoonDogs Over Honkers
Cody Fick (Evansville) stole the show in Wednesday's game with Rochester. Fick came a triple short of the cycle, going 4-5 with a run and three RBI. Fick raised his average 169 points to .269 with his outburst, pacing a 13-hit MoonDog attack against the Honkers. Fick delivered a two-run bomb to deep left field to put Mankato up 3-0 in the 3rd inning.
Long Continues Hot Start
Designated Hitter Ben Long (UW-Milwaukee) helped propell the Madison Mallards to a 5-1 victory over Rochester Tuesday night going 3-4 with a two-run homer. Long went deep to left-center field with two outs in the 6th inning, giving Madison a 4-0 edge. With the big night Long is now hitting .619 for the Mallards. "Long has carried us these last few games," Mallards Field Manager C.J. Thieleke said.
Riggins Hits Walk-Off in Mallards Home Opener
Harold Riggins (NC State) sent over 5,200 Mallards fans home happy with a walk-off home run in Madison's home opener. Riggins crushed a 1-1 pitch to straight away center, with fellow NC State outfielder John Gianis of Rochester only being able to watch it go over the fence. On the day, Riggins went 3-for-5 with two RBIs, both of which came on his walk-off blast. He raised his batting average to .273 and also scored two of the Mallards’ seven runs.
May 2009
Langfels Pinch Hit Walk-Off Homer Lifts Beetles
With the tying run 90 feet from home and the winning run at first, Jayson Langfels (Eastern Kentucky) came off the bench to pinch hit in the bottom of the ninth with the Beetles trailing 2-1. On a 1-1 offering, Langfels took a fastball over the right-center field wall; a three-run homer to win the game. It's the seventh walk-off homerun in team history and the first since Brian Harrison's (Furman) PH walk-off against Brainerd in mid-July 2008. The Beetles are now 3-1 after sweeping the River Bats.
Semel Drives in 5 Runs in Wild Defeat
Green Bay's John Semel (Chapman) had three hits, five RBI, and three runs scored in the Bullfrogs' 19-16 loss to the Honkers.
Gates Launches Game-Winning HR
Pepperdine's Aaron Gates thrilled the crowd at La Crosse's Copeland Park by hitting a three-run game-winning home run in the bottom of the ninth inning against Thunder Bay.
Marzec’s Four Hits Lead River Bats
Eric Marzec doubled and tallied five RBI in his opening night 4-for-5 outing for the St. Cloud River Bats against the Brainerd Lakes Area Lunkers. The Bats held off the Lunkers for a 10-8 victory. Marzec, a right-handed hitting centerfielder from Youngstown State University, also scored one run in the victory. Two of his RBI came on a double in the first and two others on a single in the eighth inning.
Player of the Night
Following the conclusion of Northwoods League action each day, one player from the league will be named the "Northwoods League Player of the Night" for their outstanding performance. Check this section of the website daily once the season begins on May 28th.
