Kansai Sugimoto (pictured), pitched five shutout innings as the Border Cats wrapped up their season opening four-game road trip on Thursday in La Crosse, Wisconsin.
It was a see-saw affair at Copeland Park on Thursday night and the Thunder Bay Border Cats suffered their first loss of the Northwoods League season, falling 5-4 to the La Crosse Loggers. The Cats took advantage of some wildness by Loggers pitching to score a pair of runs in the top of the ninth inning and grab a 4-3 lead, but the Loggers rallied for a pair of runs of their own on a walk-off two-run double by RJ Hamilton (Vanderbilt University).
Logan McIntyre (University of Missouri-St. Louis) led Thunder Bay at the plate going 2-for-3 with a double and a run scored. Kansai Sugimoto (Yavapai CC) had a solid start on the mound for the Cats as the Japanese righthander pitched five shutout innings, allowing just three hits, with three strikeouts. Lucas Terilli (Eastern New Mexico University) took the loss in relief.
Following a 3-1 road trip, the Cats return to Port Arthur Stadium Friday for their home opener against the Minnesota Mud Puppies. Thunder Bay native Jack Pineau (Creighton University) will make his second consecutive opening night start for the Cats. First pitch is scheduled for 7:35pm and a fireworks show will follow the game. There’s also live music in the courtyard outside of the stadium featuring Neil Herman beginning at 5:45pm. Gates open at 6:00pm and the first 250 fans receive a 2024 magnetic schedule courtesy of Intrepid Bus Charters. It’s also “Fly Away Friday’s” as fans 19-years of age & over have a chance to win a trip for two anywhere Porter Airlines flies.
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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.