Wausau, WIS – The Wisconsin Woodchucks dropped Game 1 of the Northwoods League Divisional Series 9-4 to the Lakeshore Chinooks, thanks to a five-run ninth inning for the Chinooks.
The Woodchucks fought back to even up the game in the bottom of the eighth inning with a RBI single by Ryan Howard scoring Brendon Hayden.
However, the Chinooks answered in a very loud way with a five-run ninth inning blowing the game wide open en route to the win. After a leadoff single and stolen base by Jake Noll, Brett Siddall drove him in with a RBI single through the right side of the infield giving the Chinooks a 5-4 lead. The first pitch that Zack Bowers saw with the bases loaded he hit over the left field wall to distance them with a 9-4 lead.
The five run lead was plenty for Hunter Devall as he shut the door on the Woodchucks in the bottom of the ninth inning.
The Woodchucks held a 3-0 lead thanks to a bases clearing three-run double by Zak Leighton in the bottom of the second inning.
The Chinooks again had an answer in the top of the fifth inning as they scored three runs to tie the game up at three.
The Chinooks then took the lead with a RBI single from Luke Meeteer in the top of the sixth inning.
The score remained 4-3 Chinooks until the Woodchucks 8th inning rally evened the game up.
The Woodchucks will be on the brink of elimination as they travel to Mequon tomorrow for Game 2 of the three-game series. First pitch will be at 6:35.
The Wisconsin Woodchucks are a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwood’s League. Playing its 21st season of summer collegiate baseball, the Northwood’s 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 115 Northwood’s League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer (DET) and MLB All-Stars Chris Sale (CWS), Jordan Zimmermann (WAS), Curtis Granderson (NYM), Allen Craig (STL) and Ben Zobrist (TB). All league games are viewable live via the Northwood’s League YouTube channel. For more information, visit woodchucks.com.