Catcher Tucker Stockman leaps to apply the tag as a Duluth runner is ruled out at home plate in Thunder Bay’s 8-4 win on Saturday.
The Thunder Bay Border Cats good luck charm may have been purple and teal on Saturday as they snapped a four-game losing skid with an 8-4 victory over the Duluth Huskies before a Whiskey Jacks Night crowd of 1,044 at Port Arthur Stadium.
Wearing the colours of Thunder Bay’s former professional team, the Border Cats stayed in the hunt for top spot in the Great Plains East Division improving their record to 13-11. Brayden Kuriger (Nicholls State University) had the big hit with a two-run single in the fifth inning to put the Cats up 5-4. Zane Skansi (Creighton University) provided some insurance runs with a two-run double in the eighth, his second two-base hit of the game. Kyle Morrison (Shelton State CC) went 3-for-4 with a double, and two runs scored, while Cole Ketzner (University of South Alabama) had two hits, including a double, one RBI, and scored twice. The win also evened the season series with Duluth at 4-4 for the Superior Cup with four games remaining.
Thunder Bay native Jack Pineau (Creighton University) improved to 2-0 as he battled through five innings, allowing four runs on eight hits with two strikeouts. Turner Spoljaric (University of Oregon) had an impressive debut, pitching two scoreless innings with a pair of strikeouts. Spoljaric, from Lisle, Ont., is the son of former major league pitcher and Toronto Blue Jays southpaw Paul Spoljaric. The Cats bullpen finished off an impressive night as Tyrus Riley (Fort Hays State University) struck out three over the final two frames for his second save of the season.
Thunder Bay now hits the road for six games beginning Sunday in La Crosse against the Loggers. Game time is 6:05pm ET with righthander Cole Poirrier (Nicholls State University) on the hill for the Cats.
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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.