A season-high crowd of 2,125 brought the energy to Port Arthur Stadium, but the Thunder Bay Border Cats fell 12-6 to the Rochester Honkers.

The visitors jumped out ahead early, bringing four runs across in the first inning. It was a lead that would not be relinquished, with a six-run eighth inning putting the game out of reach despite four Border Cats runs in the bottom half.

Rochester’s Brandon Contreras hit a solo home run, accounting for one of his 3 RBI in the contest. Kennedy Hara, Allan Camarillo, Maddox Haley, and Carson Beavers also had multi-RBI games for the Honkers.

Thunder Bay’s Lucas Johnson (Eastern Michigan University) reached base three times — with a hit, walk and hit by pitch — and drove in two runs for the home side.

The Cwench Border Cats player of the game was first baseman Jeremy Sheffield (Georgetown University), notching a pair of hits. Cwench is the official hydration partner of the Thunder Bay Border Cats.

The Border Cats wrap up their homestand on Saturday with the last of a four-game series against the Honkers. Right hander Ethan Froud (Pratt Community College) is the scheduled starting pitcher for Thunder Bay. First pitch is at 6:35 p.m. Following that game, the Border Cats will hit the road for two before returning home on Tuesday, June 3, to host the Duluth Huskies.

###

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’ 32nd season, the Northwoods League is the largest organized baseball league in history with 24 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, nearly 2400 NWL alums have been drafted and over 380 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 (TOR), two-time World Series Champions Ben Zobrist and Brandon Crawford 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, two-time Silver Slugger 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.