KENOSHA, WIS – The Kenosha Kingfish jumped all over Rivets pitching early and often, then held off a Rockford rally in beating the Rivets 12-6 Tuesday night at Simmons Field.
In the first, Kenosha got a ground rule double by Pete Shuler to score the game’s first run against Rivets starter Nick Drahozal (2-1). In the second, Marty Bechina began a huge night with a three run triple and later scored on a Nick Kanavas single to make it 5-0. The Kingfish weren’t done, because in the third, a Bechina two-run home run would make it 9-0 and knock Drahozal out of the game after two and two thirds pitched.
The Rivets would rally with six runs over the middle three innings, highlighted by Michael Smith’s two-run single that cut the lead to 9-6 while knocking out starter Cole Erickson (1-2). But the Kingfish had the answer in the last of the sixth. Micah Coffey had a two-run single and Cullen Jozwiak had a sacrifice fly to extend the lead to 12-6. J.R. Holloway picked up his first save with three and a third shutout innings in relief for Kenosha.
The Rivets will conclude the split two game series against the Kenosha Kingfish at Rivets Stadium on Wednesday night at 6:35 p.m. Broadcasts and live streams can be found at NorthwoodsLeague.com.
The Rockford Rivets are a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwoods League. Playing its 23rd season of summer collegiate baseball, the Northwoods League is the largest organized baseball league in the world with 18 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, more than 150 Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer (WAS) and MLB All-Stars Chris Sale (CWS), Jordan Zimmermann (DET), Curtis Granderson (NYM), Lucas Duda (NYM) and Ben Zobrist (CHC). All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League portal. For more information, visit www.rockfordrivets.com or download the new Northwoods League Mobile App on the Apple App Store and set the Rivets as your favorite team.