Tripp Johns (pictured), had two of the Border Cats 11 hits in Thursday’s 11-8 victory over the Eau Claire Express.
The Thunder Bay Border Cats won their second straight game and earned a split of their four-game series with Eau Claire as they outscored the Express 11-8 on Thursday before 1,045 fans at Port Arthur Stadium. The Cats, playing the role of spoiler in the final week, dropped Eau Claire’s record to 19-14, but the Express remain tied with the Duluth for top spot in the Great Plains East Division after the Huskies blew a late lead and lost 11-8 to Waterloo. With the victory, Thunder Bay improved its second half record to 17-16 and to 35-32 overall on the season.
The Cats fell behind 3-0 in the top of the first inning, but battled back to take a 5-4 lead after two, and blew the game open by scoring six times in the fifth inning, highlighted by a two-run double by Sam Stem (Gonzaga University). Stem drove in three runs on the night as did Riley Iffrig (Indiana State University) as the first baseman went a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate with a walk and a run scored. Tripp Johns (State Fair Community College) chipped in with two hits, including a double, and Peter Fusek (University of Wisconsin-Parkside) added a two-run single and scored three times.
Mason Lemons (Arkansas State University-Mountain Home) battled through six innings to get the win and improve his record to 2-3. The righthander gave up four earned runs on 11 hits, with one walk, and three strikeouts. Daelen Johnson (University of Wisconsin-La Crosse) gave the bullpen a big boost as he pitched three scoreless innings in relief, allowing just one hit, and striking out two, for his first save.
The Cats continue the six-game homestand Friday when they open their final two-game series of the season against the Waterloo Bucks. Lefthander Ryan Vondracek (Crown College) will get the start on the mound for Thunder Bay with first pitch scheduled for 7:35pm. Friday will feature the biggest fireworks show of the year following the game. It’s also “Fly Away Friday’s” as one lucky fan will win a trip for two anywhere Porter Airlines flies. The stadium ticket office opens on game days at 10:00am.
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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.