A run-scoring single by Jeremy Sheffield (Georgetown University) in the 10th gave the Thunder Bay Border Cats a come-from-behind home victory, delighting the 1,438 fans in attendance at Port Arthur Stadium.
The Border Cats picked up their fifth win over the Duluth Huskies in the Lake Superior Cup, prevailing 13-12 on Wednesday. The two teams wore special throwback jerseys recognizing the former Northern League, with Thunder Bay in Whiskey Jacks uniforms while Duluth suited up as the Dukes.
Trailing by eight runs through four innings, the Border Cats started their comeback with four runs in the fifth.
With the deficit cut to five, Thunder Bay plated three runs in the eighth. Down to their final out in the ninth, Ayden Hadley (Sacramento State University) hit a two-run single to send the contest to extra innings.
After shutting the Huskies out in the top half of the 10th, Sheffield came to the plate with two outs and two runners on and delivered the walkoff hit.
Hadley and Kaiden Ashton (Central Missouri University) each drove in three runs in the winning effort. Corey Morro (University of Science & Arts of Oklahoma) and Jacob Steinberg (Belmont Abbey College) each brought home a pair.
Collin Berry (Northern Oklahoma College) held Duluth scoreless over the final two innings to pick up his first win of the season.
Thunder Bay’s overall record now stands at 33-27, and 12-14 in the second half. The Border Cats have seven victories in their last 10 games.
The Border Cats continue their series with the Huskies as the two teams head south of the border for a pair of games at Wade Stadium in Duluth on Thursday and Friday. The Border Cats will be back at Port Arthur Stadium on Monday, August 4, to take on the La Crosse Loggers.
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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’ 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.