ROCHESTER, Minn. – The Honkers led through the first seven innings, but the best team in the Great Plains League flexed their muscles late, plating eleven in the last two innings.

The long balls were flying for the Honkers today. Maddox Haley and Joel Roberts started the party in the third with back-to-back jacks. Tommy Eisenstat put an exclamation point on a four-run fourth with a two-run shot over the right field wall.

The Honkers’ pitching got off to a great start with Ian Regal and Julian Castro combining for just one earned run across six innings of work. 

The two teams will play on Monday to finish off the month of June. Riane Ritter (4-0) will get the ball for the visiting Rox as he faces off against Ryan Higgins (1-0), making his final start as a Rochester Honker. The first pitch for Monday’s game is set for 6:35 p.m. CT.

The Rochester Honkers are a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwoods League. The Northwoods League is the proven leader in the development of elite college baseball players. Entering its 32nd season, the Northwoods League is the largest organized baseball league in the world with 26 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 350 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 (TEX), two-time World Series Champions Ben Zobrist and Brandon Crawford (STL) and World Series Champion Chris Sale (ATL). As well as 2019 Rookie of the Year and 2019/2021 Home Run Derby Champion Pete Alonso (NYM) and 2023 World Series Champion, 2021 and 2023 All-Star, MLB Gold Glove winner and two-time All-MLB first team shortstop Marcus Semien (TEX). All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League website. League games are viewable live at watchnwl.com and on ESPN+. For more information, visit northwoodsleague.com/rochester-honkers 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.