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Waterloo scored three runs in the first two frames en route to their fourth straight win.
By: Matt Gruemmer, Waterloo Bucks
THUNDER BAY, Ontario – The Waterloo Bucks (28-24/10-6) held on for a 4-2 defeat of the Thunder Bay Border Cats (22-30/5-12) Friday night at Tbaytel Park at Port Arthur Stadium. Three early runs backed the strong four-inning start by Zach Siggelkow (St. Cloud St.) before Doug Hayes (4-3) (Illinois) entered in the fifth and closed the door to capture the team’s fourth consecutive victory.
Tyler Selesky (Florida Gulf Coast) remained hot on the road with a hit, a run-scoring sacrifice fly and a run scored in the affair while Zach Soria (Florida International) did it both with the bat and glove, providing an RBI-double in the box and a run-saving catch on a dive in right field.
The Bucks opened the game by sending the first two men in the order across the plate in the opening frame. After a lead-off single by Selesky, Taylor Boyd (St. Joseph’s) cracked a shallow fly ball into right that was fielded as an error.
Bouncing over the right-fielder’s glove, Boyd’s hit ball got him to third base as Selesky wheeled around the bases to make it 1-0. Jonah Bride (Neosho County CC), then, singled in Boyd for the 2-0 score two at-bats later in the top of the first.
In the second inning, Matthew Stemper (Minnesota) came around to score on a Selesky sacrifice fly to left-center field. Starting the frame with a single, Stemper crossed to make it 3-0 in favor of Waterloo after two.
Siggelkow worked through several jams as the Bucks’ starting pitcher in his Northwoods League debut. The southpaw exited after four innings, surrendering one run on five hits while walking three and striking out a pair.
The Border Cats clawed back in the bottom of the fourth when Dan Rizzie (Xavier) scored on the third hit of the inning. Matt Batten (Quinnipiac) singled him in to cut the deficit to 3-1.
Hayes (4-2) picked up his third consecutive winning decision after tossing the remaining five innings out of the bullpen. Another lefty, Hayes shut down Thunder Bay for one run on five hits along with two walks and two strikeouts.
Waterloo added a run in the top of the sixth with doubles from Soria and Zach McKinstry (Central Michigan). Opening the inning with a double off the third baseman’s leather, McKinstry later scored on Soria’s sixth double-bagger of the year to make it a 4-1 advantage.
Thunder Bay quickly retaliated in the bottom of the sixth when Max Dutto (California) bumped Nate Nolan (St. Mary’s) in with a sacrifice fly to right-center field. Waterloo’s Soria robbed Dutto on the sacrifice, laying out at full speed to make the catch and keep Mikeal Mogues (Seton Hall) off the scoreboard and make it, 4-2. Hayes battled the rest of the way for the Bucks to secure their third straight road victory.
Waterloo returns home next on Friday, July 18, to face the Duluth Huskies at 5:05 p.m. (CT). Join the Bucks after the game for a rockin’ concert on the field performed by country artist, and Iowa native, Neil Hewitt!
Then, presented by Hawkeye Community College, join us for a fireworks show following the Bucks game on Saturday! Fireworks shows are VERY popular so make sure to get your tickets now!
Tickets are available at waterloobucks.com. You can also visit the Bucks Ticket Office at Riverfront Stadium or call (319)-232-5633.
Bucks’ games are broadcast live on waterloobucks.com.
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The Waterloo Bucks are a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwoods League. Playing its 22nd season of summer collegiate baseball in 2015, the Northwoods League is the largest organized baseball league in the world with 18 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, more than 120 Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer (WAS) and MLB All-Stars Chris Sale (CWS), Jordan Zimmermann (WAS), Curtis Granderson (NYM), Lucas Duda (NYM) and Ben Zobrist (OAK). All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League Website. For more information, visit www.waterloobucks.com.
