Jackson Cooke (pictured), homered three times and drove in eight runs during Wednesday’s doubleheader in Waterloo, Iowa.
The Thunder Bay Border Cats earned a split in their day-night doubleheader on Wednesday in Waterloo, Iowa against the Bucks. After seeing their five-game winning streak come to an end by losing the opener 12-9, the Cats bounced back to take the nightcap 7-5. Thunder Bay’s second half record now stands at 7-2 good for a tie atop the Great Plains East Division standings with the Rochester Honkers, who sit at 6-1. The Cats are now 25-18 overall on the season.
In the second game, Jackson Cooke (University of Tennessee at Martin) capped off a big day at the plate as the Edina, MN., native homered twice and drove in fours runs in the 7-5 victory. Newcomer Keegan Garis (Indiana State University) went 2-for-3 with a double, one RBI, and three runs scored. On the mound, Kobe Allen (Westminster College) made his first appearance for Thunder Bay and started out by pitching three shutout innings, allowing two hits with three strikeouts. Peter Fusek (University of Wisconsin-Parkside) picked up the win out of the bullpen as the righthander went 3 2/3 innings, surrendering two runs on four hits. After the Bucks scored three times in the bottom of the ninth, Sean Heppner (University of British Columbia) came on to get the final two outs for his fifth save, including a strikeout to end it with the tying run at second base.
In the opener, Cooke homered and knocked in four runs and Ty Hamilton (Florida Southwestern State College) went a perfect 4-for-4 at the dish, with his first home run of the season, a double, and three runs scored. However, the pitching staff couldn’t hold down the Bucks, who scored 12 runs through the first six innings enroute to the 12-9 triumph. Bode Gebbink (Missouri University of Science & Technology) was saddled with the loss in his Border Cats debut as he allowed four runs on five hits in two innings of relief.
The Cats and Bucks close out their four-game series at Riverfront Stadium on Thursday at 7:35pm ET. Righthander Dylan Mulcahy (Stephen F. Austin State University) is the scheduled starter for Thunder Bay. The righthander is 1-0 with a 2.25 ERA in eight appearances this season. The Cats return to Port Arthur Stadium on Friday to kick off an 6-game homestand with the first of four games against the La Crosse Loggers at 6:35pm.
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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.