Stop me if you’ve seen this one before: the Honkers go ahead early. They lose the lead in the early innings and it’s looking like the opposition is coasting to a comfortable win. In the late innings, Rochester makes a push to make things interesting, but ultimately fall short.
This is exactly what happened tonight in Rockford as the Honkers fell for the fourth straight game. Luca Dipaolo got things started early with an RBI single. He has played just two games this summer but is three for five with four walks and no strikeouts.
The Rivets answered with three runs in the bottom of the first. Honkers starter Daniel Zang bounced back from the rough first, tossing three scoreless after that.
Rockford added two more in the sixth seemingly putting the game out of reach. But an hour-long rain delay stymied their momentum.
In the seventh, Mattie Thomas drove in a run and they added one more, making it a two-run game.
Bryce Liechty entered the game for Rochester in the seventh with a runner at second and two outs. He struck out Scott Newman and stayed in the game to punch out one more in the eighth.
Ultimately, the knockout blow the Honkers have been searching for all season did not come. Rockford held on to win 5-3, sending Rochester to 1-8. They are off tomorrow before going to Eau Claire on Wednesday.
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’ 31st 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.
