Chucks Finish Season Series with Rockers, 8-11 Defeat
The Chucks and Rockers finished their stretch of four straight as well as the season series as the Rockers come out victorious 8-11 from Athletic Park. The Chucks were 9-3 against the defending NWL Champions this season.
It was a leadoff HR by Makani Tanaka (Oral Roberts) off starter Sebastian Escobar (Central Methodist U) that set the tone for the Rockers. Escobar would let up three more runs in the second inning and the Chucks trailed 4-0 after three innings.
The starter for the Rockers Landon Victorian (LSU), who just graduated high school, went five innings scoreless and didn’t allow a hit until the fourth. He finished his outing with seven strikeouts in five innings pitched and only allowed two hits.
The Rockers poured on the runs in the 4th inning as they found five runs and sent 11 batters to the plate. They found three hits and four walks as the Chucks were forced to use two arms. They trailed 9-0.
The Chucks finally found a run in the 5th as Edian Espinal (UCF) singled home Austin Dearing (FIU). The Chucks would get starter Victorian out of the ball game after five innings.
In the 6th, Green Bay sent three arms to the mound as they walked a total of six batters and gave up three hits. Jake Berkland (Mankato) found his first double of the season that scored one run. The Chucks cut the deficit to 7-9.
The Rockers would find two more runs when they needed it most, the top of the 9th. They found three hits off Carsen Plumadore (Georgia Southwestern U) and led 7-11 after 9 ½ innings. In the bottom half, Vance Sheahan and Edian Espinal were able to score one run and make it an 8-11 ball game. It would stay that way and the Chucks fell to 17-6 in the second half.
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The Wausau Woodchucks are a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwoods League. The Northwoods League is the proven leader in the development of elite college baseball players. Now in its’ 31st season, the Northwoods League is the largest organized baseball league in history with 26 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, 360 Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including three-time All-Star and 2016 Roberto Clemente Award winner Curtis Granderson, three-time Cy Young Award winner and World Series Champion Max Scherzer (TEX), two-time World Series Champions Ben Zobrist and Brandon Crawford (STL) and World Series Champion Chris Sale (ATL). As well as 2019 Rookie of the Year and 2019/2021 Home Run Derby Champion Pete Alonso (NYM) and 2023 World Series Champion, MLB All-Star, MLB Gold Glove winner and two-time All-MLB first team shortstop Marcus Semien (TEX). League games are viewable live on Northwoods League+ (at watch.northwoodsleague.com), ESPN+, and the Northwoods League Network. Learn more and find complete streaming schedules at watchnwl.com. For more information, visit www.woodchucks.com or download the new Northwoods League Mobile App on the Apple App Store or on Google Play and set the Woodchucks as your favorite team.
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Author: David Keech
David Keech is a retired teacher and works as a sportswriter, sports official and as an educational consultant. He has reported on amateur sports since 2011, known as 'KeechDaVoice.' David can be reached at [email protected]
