The Honkers continued their offense roll on Friday night, beating Waterloo 9-5 in comeback fashion.
Matthew Brock started and was near-perfect through three innings. However, the Bucks had a big fourth and took a 4-0 lead.
Rochester didn’t answer until the sixth when Luca Dipalo hit a two-run homer, and two batters later, Grant MacArthur hit a solo shot. Joe Sperry tossed five stellar innings out of the bullpen, allowing just one run and striking out five.
After tying the game but falling behind again, Rochester loaded the bases in the eighth. Dom Rodriguez came to the plate and crushed a grand slam that easily cleared the left field wall.
Matthew Lighthall came in for the ninth and faced the minimum, sending the Honkers to 8-2 in the second half. They will have one more game against Waterloo tomorrow at 6:35.
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.
