Five-Run Eighth Lifts Lakeshore to Comeback Win
Tim Hackett, Broadcasting Intern
Wausau, Wis.- For the second straight day, the Lakeshore Chinooks rallied back to win in comeback fashion over the Wisconsin Woodchucks. But instead of scoring 17 runs over seven innings like on Tuesday night, the Chinooks (14-15) scored six in the final two to leave the Woodchucks (10-19) behind in an 11-7 heartbreaker.
The two teams combined for 26 runs Tuesday, and there was plenty of offense Wednesday night in Wausau as well. Just like Tuesday, the Woodchucks struck first when Brylie Ware drove home Jackson Owens with a single in the first, but a pair of walks hurt Chucks starter Austin Lambright in the third on a 3-RBI double hit by Nick Gatewood to give Lakeshore a 3-1 lead.
The Chinooks got back to work in the fifth against Daniel Sprinkle as TJ Raguse and Jack Dunn each drove in a run to make it 5-1 Lakeshore. Lenny Gwizdala pitched a scoreless sixth and seventh to keep things close, and his offense finally broke out behind him to snatch a lead.
Lakeshore starter Zach Spears wasn’t at his best, allowing a season-high four earned runs, and he couldn’t make it through six. Ware led off the frame with his first homer of the year to bring Wisconsin within three, and the deficit was soon just one after RBI from Chad Fleischman and Brady Lindsly.
The Chucks completed their comeback off Nick Campe in the seventh. Campe hit Trey Dawson to start the frame and Stevie Mangrum singled him home to tie the game. The Chucks loaded the bases with only one out, and Ivan Nunez drew a bases-loaded walk to force home Mangrum to put the Chucks ahead. Later, Fleischman hit a sac fly to score Ware and the Wisconsin lead was 7-5.
It would not last long. Orsen Josephina, normally the Chucks’ ninth-inning guy, came on to work the eighth, and the Chinooks made his stay a brief one. Drake Lubin led off with a walk, and Joe Duncan tied the score with a two-run shot to left. It didn’t stop there. Daniel DeSimone brought home two more on a single, and a knock from Raguse scored DeSimone to make it 10-7. The Chinooks added an unearned run against Jackson Owens in the ninth to cap off the scoring, and the Chucks could not break through against the back end of the Lakeshore bullpen in an 11-7 Chinooks win.
The Woodchucks head back out on the road Thursday night as they head to Green Bay for the first half of a home-and-home set with the Bullfrogs at Joannes Stadium. Gordon Cardenas will square off against Green Bay’s Jared Tobey for the second time this season, with the Chucks hoping to get the win in the rematch.
Tickets are on sale to all Wisconsin Woodchucks home games and the 2017 Northwoods League Home Run Derby and All-Star Game, presented by Ascension. Tickets can be purchased online, by calling 715.845.5055 or by stopping by the Woodchucks front office during normal business hours.