Catcher Trey Fikes (pictured) makes a play in the infield against the Minnesota Mud Puppies.
The Thunder Bay Border Cats ran their first place record in the Great Plains East Division to 5-1 as they rolled over the Minnesota Mud Puppies 14-2 before 715 fans Saturday night at Port Arthur Stadium. Leading 2-1 heading into the bottom of the fifth inning, the Cats took advantage of some wild and erratic Minnesota pitching to erupt for 12 runs to take a 14-1 lead. The Cats sent 18 men to the plate in the uprising, which included nine walks and four hit batters.
Garfield Johns (University of South Alabama) picking up the win in his season debut. The lefthander went five innings and allowed just one run on three hits with a pair of strikeouts.
The Border Cats continue their six-game homestand on Sunday when they open a two-game series against the Eau Claire Express at 5:05pm. Righthander Trevor Baugh (Fort Hays State University) is the scheduled starter for Thunder Bay. Sunday is Family Day with a special of four tickets, four hot dogs, four Pepsi, and four bags of Old Dutch Chips for $49.00 and kids can run the bases after the game. The first 250 fans thru the gates also receive a 2024 magnetic schedule courtesy of Intrepid Bus Charters.
The Cats and Mud Puppies wrap up their two-game series on Saturday at 6:35pm. Sean Heppner (University of British Columbia) is the scheduled starter for the Cats, who continue their six-game homestand.
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The Thunder Bay Border Cats 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 www.bordercatsbaseball.com or download the new Northwoods League Mobile App on the Apple App Store or on Google Play and set the Rockers as your favorite team.