For the first time in 2024, the Honkers have won back-to-back games. They came away from tonight’s messy, back-and-forth game on top 11-10.
Ten of the Honkers’ eleven runs were scored in the second or the sixth. Draven Nushida and Brendan O’Sullivan started Rochester’s scoring off with RBI singles in the second.
The sixth saw the Honkers plate six runs, two of which were thanks to Nushida’s two-run double. Mattie Thomas added two more when he launched a ball over the left field wall for his fourth homer of the year.
A critical moment of the game was in the seventh inning. Will Lavin was summoned from the bullpen where he inherited a bases-loaded, no-out situation. After walking the first hitter, he struck out the next three, preserving Rochester’s lead.
He gave the ball off to Cam Cunnings who tossed two innings of one-run ball. In the bottom of the ninth, Jae Williams came in to pinch-run for Waterloo. He stole second, and the throw trickled into center field. Nushida backed up the play and fired a strike to third to throw Williams out.
This was ultimately the decider. Cunnings struck out the next hitter, finishing the six-out save.
The Honkers will be back in Waterloo tomorrow looking for a sweep.
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.
