By: Niall Rosenberg
Green Bay, Wis. — Late game heroics were not enough for the Rockford Rivets as they fell to the Green Bay Rockers 5-4.
Another night of double-digit walks was not enough as the Rivets’ bats were held to just two hits in this affair. The Rivets were still able to make it interesting in the final frame. The Rivets end up losing their first game of the year after an impressive start to the season.
The Rivets went down early after the Rockers hit a two-run home run in the first. They later followed that up with a solo home run in the third to extend their lead to three.
Wesley Johnston (Paris JC) got the start on the bump today for head coach Chase Brewster. The Freshman from North York, Ontario, went 4 IP, giving up five earned runs on four hits. He finished with three strikeouts to end his day.
Rockford was able to get on the board in the main way they have been so far this young season, working counts to cause RBI walks and RBI hit by pitches. This was seen in the fifth inning.
The Rivets loaded the bases for Tommy Townsend (Butler), who was hit by a pitch for the third time this season and got Rockford on the board. Adison Worthman (Parkland) and Nolan Belcher (Kentucky) walked following Townsend and tied the game at three apiece. The Rivets got three RBIs on no hits in the fifth.
Green Bay bounced back in the bottom of the fifth with two of their own. A wild pitch and sloppy defense from the Rivets caused the Rockers to get their lead right back after the Rivets tied it.
Rockford loaded the bases once again in the top of the sixth. A wild pitch allowed Ny’zaiah Thompson to score, and the Rivets cut the lead to one run. The Rivets continue to capitalize on their opponents’ missteps to score this season.
The Rivets’ bullpen locked it down for the rest of the game following Johnston’s departure. Porter Conn (Kansas), Braydon Cooper (Rock Valley) and Gideon Motes (Michigan) held the Rockers scoreless while only giving up two hits.
The top of the ninth saw the Rivets with Ethan Delgado (Ecclesia) on third with WT Jones (Seminole State CC) at the plate. On the 1-1 pitch, Delgado tried to steal home but was caught, ending the game.
Keeping runners on the basepaths have been crucial for the Rivets, but without the hits to back them up, they struggled to get over the hump tonight. Thompson himself had three walks in the game. The bats could look to bounce back in the next couple of games.
The Rivets will begin their next series starting tomorrow against the Wisconsin Rapids Rafters away before a single away game versus the Kenosha Kingfish, followed by a home game against Kenosha on June 2.
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The Rockford Rivets 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. Now in its’ 31st season, the Northwoods League is the largest organized baseball league in history 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, 360 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, MLB All-Star, MLB Gold Glove winner and two-time All-MLB first team shortstop Marcus Semien (TEX). League games are viewable live on Northwoods League+ (at watch.northwoodsleague.com), ESPN+, and the Northwoods League Network. Learn more and find complete streaming schedules at watchnwl.com. For more information, visit www.rockfordrivets.com or download the new Northwoods League Mobile App on the Apple App Store or on Google Play and set the Rivets as your favorite team.