After an early wake-up call and a seven-hour bus ride, it was time for the Rochester Honkers (28-28, 10-12) to face off against the Bismarck Larks (22-35, 6-17). The Honkers would lead pretty much the whole game, but a late comeback by the Larks allowed them to pull out the 8-5 victory.
The Honkers got on the board first as Paul Schoenfeld (Colorado Mesa) doubled down the right-field line to open the game. Two wild pitches later, the Honkers picked up the 1-0 lead but could have had much more as they left two runners in scoring position.
Cole Seward (Colorado Mesa) started on the mound for Rochester and was brilliant. He did not allow an earned run in his outing and kept the team in a position to win the contest.
Flash forward to the top of the fourth inning, and the Honkers were threatening. The first three batters reached in the inning, and the Honkers picked up a run as Dario Gomez (Miami) scored on a wild pitch, one of seven wild pitches from the Bismarck staff that night.
Andy Miller (Lane CC) stepped up the plate and smacked a two-run single into center field that plated two runs giving the Honkers a 4-0 lead. Bismarck would get on the board in the bottom of the frame, but Rochester would get the run back in the top of the seventh and headed into the eighth inning leading 5-1.
Seward came out after tossing 98 pitches and getting through 6 1/3 innings, and Corbin Barker (UC Riverside) relieved him. Barker worked out of a jam in the seventh but imploded in the eighth. The Honkers would need three pitchers to get through the eighth inning, and when the smoke cleared, Bismarck had taken an 8-5 lead.
The Honkers could not do anything in the ninth, and the Larks snapped their four-game losing streak. The Honkers battle the Larks for the final time this season on Friday. First pitch is at 7:00 pm.
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.
