Despite another excellent outing from the pitching staff for their third consecutive game, the Rochester Honkers (2-1) fell in their home opener 1-0 to the visiting Thunder Bay Border Cats (2-1).
In front of their home crowd for the first time in 2023, Rochester out-hit Thunder Bay but could not capitalize as they left ten runners on base. Nine of the ten runners left stranded by the Honkers came in the final four innings as they left the bases loaded in the eighth inning and two runners on in the sixth, seventh, and ninth.
For the third consecutive game to start the summer, Rochester got an efficient outing from their starting pitcher. Cole Mahlum (0-1) (Dakota County Technical College) settled down after allowing the first three Border Cats to reach and finished allowing just one run in 5.2 innings pitched combined with three strikeouts and three walks.
The only run in the ballgame came in the top of the 1st inning on an RBI sacrifice fly off the bat of Peter Fusek (Western Illinois). The visitors would manage just three hits after the first two batters of the contest.
Nico Regino (Charleston Southern) led the offensive charge for the home team with a three-hit game. The Honkers veteran now has six hits in the opening week to start his third season in Rochester.
The Honkers put the tying run in scoring position with one out in the final two innings, but Kannon Carr (Jefferson College) shut the door on both opportunities. Carr recorded six of his seven outs via the strikeout – and it’s how he ended the home half of the eighth and ninth innings.
Peyton Frosher (1-0) (Angelina College) was the starter for Thunder Bay and threw 6.1 scoreless innings, allowing just five hits before Carr relieved him in the seventh inning.
The duo of Noah Willingham (Williams Baptist) and Will Kent (South Dakota State University) combined for 3.1 innings of relief of Mahlum. Willingham was particularly impressive, allowing just one base runner and working out of a bases-loaded jam in the sixth inning.
Rochester will try to even the two-game series tomorrow on Thu., June 1. The scheduled first pitch time is 6:35 p.m.
The Rochester Honkers began their 30th season of play on May 29th. Keep up with the team on social media by following them on Twitter (@RochHonkers) and Instagram (@honkersbaseball) and like the Honkers on Facebook at Rochester Honkers Baseball Club. Interact on social by using the hashtag #FunForTheWholeFlock!
The Northwoods League is the proven leader in the development of elite college baseball players. Now in its’ 30th season, the Northwoods League is the largest organized baseball league in the world with 24 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, over 310 Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including three-time All-Star and 2016 Roberto Clemente Award winner Curtis Granderson, three-time Cy Young Award winner and World Series Champion Max Scherzer (NYM), two-time World Series Champions Ben Zobrist and Brandon Crawford (SFG) and World Series Champion Chris Sale (BOS). As well as 2019 Rookie of the Year and 2019/2021 Home Run Derby Champion Pete Alonso (NYM) and 2021 All-Star, MLB Gold Glove winner and 2019 Second Team All-MLB shortstop Marcus Semien (TEX). All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League website at watchnwl.com and on ESPN+. For more information, visit www.northwoodsleague.com or download the Northwoods League Mobile App on the Apple App Store or on Google Play.
