(Rochester, Minn.) – Alex McGarry (Oregon State) launched a three-run home run in the fifth inning to power the Rochester Honkers past the Waterloo Bucks 6-4 Sunday at Riverfront Stadium. The Honkers played their last game of the 2018 season to finish 17-19 in the second half and 34-38 overall. The Bucks finished 10-27 and 20-52.
Waterloo struck first getting on the board in the third. Luke Bowerbank (Rutgers) came in to score as Brendan Hueth (St. Josephs) was caught stealing second to give the Bucks a 1-0 lead.
The Bucks extended their lead in the fourth. Greg Anderberg (Ellsworth CC) grounded into a double play that brought home a run and gave Waterloo a 2-0 lead.
The Honkers took a 3-2 in the fifth thanks to a three-run homer of the bat of McGarry. It was McGarry’s eighth home run of the year.
In the sixth, Logan Denholm (UC Davis) brought home another run with a double to extend the Rochester lead to 4-2. Casey Dunlap (Point Loma Nazarene) came up next to drive another double that brought Denholm in and gave the Honkers a 5-2 lead.
Waterloo fought back in the eighth as Anderberg singled to right to bring in a run. Carmen Sclafani (Rutgers) came in to score on a balk and cut the Honkers lead to 5-4.
Rochester came back and added an insurance run as Nate Webb (UC Riverside) led off the ninth with a solo home run to give the Honkers a 6-4 lead.
Dunlap had a three hit night going 3-for-3 with a run scored and a walk for Rochester. Denholm and McGarry each added two hits for the Honkers offense.
Honkers starting pitcher Zak Devermann (Illinois) was rewarded with his fifth win of the year after tossing six innings giving up two runs on eight hits. Ryan Dorney (St. Martins) came in relief to work a scoreless inning and recorded a strike out. Michael Brandt (Augustana) pitched one inning out of the bullpen and gave up two runs on two hits. Josh Ibarra (Concordia-Irvine) worked a scoreless ninth and picked up his 11th save of the season.
Bucks starting pitcher Robert Reaser (Lewis and Clark) was tagged with the loss, Reaser pitched six innings surrendering five runs on seven hits.
Today marks the end of the 2018 Rochester Honkers season. Thanks to all fans, host families and sponsors who helped make this season a good one.
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The Rochester Honkers 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, 200 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.rochesterhonkers.com or download the new Northwoods League Mobile App on the Apple App Store or on Google Play and set the Honkers as your favorite team.
