(Rochester, Minn.) – The Rochester Honkers defeated the Waterloo Bucks 7-6 in 17 innings on a walk-off balk. The game lasted 6 hours and 10 minutes, making it the second longest game in Northwoods League History.
The Bucks scored all of their six runs in the first inning. Alex Boxwell (Minnesota) started the night with a solo home run. Lane Milligan (New Mexico), Brody Weiss (Riverside City College) and Daniel Perry (Iowa) all hit RBI singles in the inning, giving the Bucks a 6-0 lead.
The Honkers came right back in the bottom of the first, when Mark Contreras (UC Riverside) hit a two-run home run, cutting the deficit to 6-2. The Honkers got two more back in the bottom of the second when Christopher Scalisi (Redlands) hit an RBI single to left field that scored Troy Traxler (Minnesota). Keaton Weisz (Auburn) then scored on a passed ball, making the score 6-4.
Jackson Thoreson (St. Mary’s) hit his first home run of the day in the bottom of the third, and then tied the game with another solo home run in the bottom of the fifth at 6-6.
The Honkers held the Bucks scoreless for 16 straight innings, with the combination of start Spencer Johnson (Wayne State), Jackson Rose (Barton CC), Robert Paccione (LIU, Post), Tanner Schumacher (Purdue) and Hunter Van Horn (1-0) (Clemson) to get the win. Van Horn was credited with the win after throwing the final two thirds of the 17th inning.
In the bottom of the 17th, Contreras got on base with a walk, and then he advanced to third on a Thoreson single. Andrew Muehlberger (1-1) (Central Missouri) then balked on the mound, allowing Contreras to score and the Honkers the win. Jared Crescentini got the start for the Bucks, he went 4.2 innings, allowed six runs on eight hits and struck out three.
Thoreson paced the Honkers offense, going 4 for 7 with two home runs, two RBI and two runs scored. Brody Weiss went 3 for 6 to pace the Bucks’ offense, with one RBI and one run scored.
With the win, the Honkers advance to 5-10, while the Bucks fall to 11-4.
The Honkers are back at home Thursday night to battle the Duluth Huskies. It is Mayo Department of Medicine Night, with first pitch set for 7:05 p.m. and gates open at 6. The Honkers stay at home Friday to play the same Huskies team. It is First Responders Night at Mayo Field, as all first responders who show their first responders’ Id badge will get a general admission ticket for free! First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m. and gates open at 6!
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The Rochester Honkers are a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwoods League. Playing its 23rd season of summer collegiate baseball, the Northwoods League is the largest organized baseball league in the world with 18 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 150 Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer (WAS) and MLB All-Stars Chris Sale (CWS), Jordan Zimmermann (DET), Curtis Granderson (NYM), Lucas Duda (NYM) and Ben Zobrist (CHC). All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League portal. For more information, visit www.rochesterhonkers.com
