Keegan Garis (pictured), hit one of the Border Cats five home runs in Sunday’s game in Rochester.
Runs were plentiful on Sunday at Mayo Field, but the Thunder Bay Border Cats couldn’t hold down the Rochester Honkers and lost 13-11 to split their two-game series. Thunder Bay enters the All-Star break in first place in the Great Plains East Division with a second half record of 12-8, good for a half game lead over Duluth and a one game edge over Rochester. The Cats still own the best overall record in the division at 30-24.
The Cats battled back from a 6-0 deficit to tie the game with a single run in the fifth inning and five runs in the sixth. The game was then knotted up 9-9 in the eighth, but the Honkers scored four times to take a 13-9 lead, before the Cats scored a pair in the ninth to close out a wild game that featured 24 runs, 27 hits, and nine home runs.
The Cats hit a franchise record five homers in the game with Cole Ketzner (University of South Alabama) connecting for a pair to give him a team leading eight for the season. Sam Stem (Gonzaga University), Keegan Garis (Indiana State University), and Brayden Kuriger (Nicholls State University) also went deep for Thunder Bay. Ketzner and Garis both had three hits, while Kuriger and Tucker Stockman (University of South Mississippi) added two hits apiece.
Newcomer Colin Slivka (Oakton Community College) started for the Cats and pitched four innings, striking out two, and allowing nine hits and six runs, although only three runs were earned. Trent Jordan (Arkansas State University-Mountain Home) was saddled with the loss in relief.
The Cats will now enjoy three days off before continuing their 14-game road trip on Thursday in Eau Claire against the Express. Pitcher Max Ramirez IV (Niagara University) and catcher/designated hitter Jackson Cooke (University of Tennessee at Martin) will represent Thunder Bay at the 2024 NWL All-Star Game on Tuesday in Mankato, MN. Cooke, who is second on the club with six home runs, will participate in Monday’s Home Run Derby at ISG Field. His father, former NHL’er Matt Cooke, is scheduled to pitch to Jackson during the contest.
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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. 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.bordercatsbaseball.com or download the new Northwoods League Mobile App on the Apple App Store or on Google Play and set the Border Cats as your favourite team.