With back-to-back wins to begin play in the Northwoods League's second half, Lakeshore and Kenosha are off to a good start as they chase playoff berths in the South Division.
Lakeshore 8, Kalamazoo 7 - For the second consecutive night, the Lakeshore Chinooks entered the ninth inning against the Kalamazoo Growlers with the game tied. And for the second consecutive night, Lakeshore scored the go-ahead run in the top of the ninth and kept the home team scoreless in the bottom half for a big road victory. The win moves the Chinooks to 2-0 in the second half of the Northwoods League season, and finishes a two-game sweep against a Growlers team that has regularly had its way with opponents all summer long. Kalamazoo finished the first half of the season in second place in the South Division.
Kenosha 7, Fond du Lac 4 - Picking up where they left off on Wednesday, the Kenosha Kingfish (15-21) beat the Fond du Lac Dock Spiders (21-16) 7-4 at Herr-Baker Field. Cale Cuddie (UW-Stevens Point) got the start, his sixth with Kenosha this season. Cuddie pitched well in his first game against the Dock Spiders this year throwing 4.2 innings while giving up only one earned run on seven hits. He struck out one and walked one. The win for Kenosha is their third in a row and their second to begin the second half of the season. This is the team’s first road sweep of 2018.
Battle Creek 10, Madison 2 - The Madison Mallards (0-2, 28-10) fell to the Battle Creek Bombers (2-0, 18-19) on Thursday night at Warner Park, 10-2. The Bombers were powered by a pair of crucial home runs that knocked in a total of seven runs and allowed them to build a sizeable lead.
Thunder Bay 6, Eau Claire 1 - It was a beautiful night for baseball at Carson Park, but the Eau Claire Express (1-1) were outmatched by the Thunder Bay Border Cats (1-1). The Express lost 6-1 as the pitching staff of the Border Cats came up big.
Full recap of yesterday's action:
Here's a preview of upcoming games around the Northwoods League:
Friday: Madison (28-10, 0-2) at Kenosha (15-21, 2-0) - 7:05 p.m.
Saturday: Madison at Kenosha - 6:05 p.m.
Sunday: Madison at Battle Creek (18-19, 2-0) - 12:05 p.m.
Monday: Madison at Battle Creek - 10:05 a.m.
Standings: Won South Division First Half Title - 3.5 GA for #1 Playoff Seed
The Mallards now hit the road for two games in Kenosha followed by a two-game set in Battle Creek. The Mallards will return home on Tuesday, July 10 to take on the Kenosha Kingfish at 7:05 PM.
Friday: Wisconsin (13-23, 1-0) at Lakeshore (18-19, 2-0) - 6:35 p.m.
Saturday: Wisconsin at Lakeshore - 6:35 p.m.
Sunday: Wisconsin Rapids (17-20, 2-0) at Lakeshore - 5:05 p.m.
Monday: Wisconsin Rapids at Lakeshore - 6:35 p.m.
Standings: 1 GB for Wild Card - 0 GB for Second Half Division Title
The Chinooks return home for the weekend, opening up a two-game series against the Wisconsin Woodchucks Friday at Kapco Park. Right-hander Kyle Schmitt is set to make his first start of the season for Lakeshore, with first pitch scheduled for 6:35 p.m.
Friday: Madison (28-10, 0-2) at Kenosha (15-21, 2-0) - 7:05 p.m.
Saturday: Madison at Kenosha - 6:05 p.m.
Sunday: Kalamazoo (24-13, 0-2) at Kenosha - 4:05 p.m.
Monday: Kalamazoo at Kenosha - 7:05 p.m.
Standings: 3.5 GB for Wild Card - 0 GB for Second Half Division Title
The Kingfish return home Friday to take on the Madison Mallards for the second time at Historic Simmons Field this year. Kevin Napoleon (Butler) is lined up to make his first start of the season.
Friday: Eau Claire (14-23, 1-1) at La Crosse (19-18, 2-0) - 7:05 p.m.
Saturday: Eau Claire at La Crosse - 6:05 p.m.
Sunday: Eau Claire at Rochester (17-21, 0-2) - 1:05 p.m.
Monday: Rochester at Eau Claire - 6:35 p.m.
Standings: 8.5 GB for Wild Card - 1 GB for Second Half Division Title
Eau Claire heads to La Crosse to begin a two game set against the Loggers on Friday and Saturday (7/6-7/7). They travel to Rochester for the first game of a home and home series on Sunday, July 8th. The Express will be back in town on Monday, July 9th, for a 6:35 pm first pitch.
*Madison (South Division, First Half Champions) and Bismarck (North Division, First Half Champions) have clinched playoff spots.
Video: Northwoods League (Video posts each morning here)