WATERLOO, Iowa – The Waterloo Bucks began their 2022 Northwoods League season looking for revenge after falling to the St. Cloud Rox in the 2021 Great Plains Championship Game last year. And who better to start the season against than the Rox themselves. However, the revenge the Bucks sought after will have to wait at least one more day.

Keaton Parker of Upper Iowa Area Community College toed the rubber and began the season as the Bucks’ opening day starter, but his start wouldn’t last long. The Rox pushed across a run in the 2^nd inning, but the Bucks responded. Alec Patino launched a solo home run in the bottom half of the inning that got Waterloo right back into the ballgame tied at one apiece.

But that’s when the game unraveled for the Bucks. The Rox got hot scoring five runs in the top of the fifth inning headlined by a three-run home run by Charlie Condon. The Georgia Bulldog ripped the ball over the left-field wall with nobody out as the Rox were able to scrape across two more runs after the blast. Parker was pulled with two outs in the third inning as Daniel Flores got the first nod out of the bullpen.

Ultimately it was that five-run third for the Rox that led them to the opening day victory by a score of 8-4. The Bucks entered the bottom of the ninth down by six, 8-2, but were able to fight as much as they could including forcing the Rox to talk to closer Derek Lillehahl before he was able to slam the door on the Bucks’ comeback attempt.

The Waterloo Bucks (0-1) will host the St. Cloud Rox (1-0) on Tuesday night at 6:35 p.m. in the second game of the two-game series. Dylan Gotto from Wartburg College is the expected starter for Waterloo while Kaden Krowka from Tarleton State will take the mound for St. Cloud. You can purchase tickets for Tuesday’s game at waterloobucks.com.

Box Score: https://northwoodsleague.com/statistics/?param=/game/2185/stats/home/batting