Wausau, Wisc. – The Wausau Woodchucks (33-31) swept the series against the Fond du Lac Dock Spiders (34-31), winning the second game on an overcast Sunday afternoon with a final score of 12-5. Despite the gloomy weather, the Chucks put on a show, hitting three home runs, one of which was a grand slam.
The Woodchucks bats started off quiet until the bottom of the 4th inning. The Chucks were trailing by three, but Garrett Hill (North Dakota State) kicked things off by launching a two run home run to left field, scoring himself and Nik Levensteins (North Georgia), who had gotten a single.
In the bottom of the 5th, Chase Hug (Evansville) and Tyler Cox (Eckerd) both hit singles, followed by Levensteins being walked to load the bases for the Chucks. Hill stepped up to the plate and continued his hot streak by smashing another home run over the left field wall, earning himself his first collegiate grand slam to put the Woodchucks up over the Dock Spiders. Zach Kluvers (North Dakota State) then hit a double, and was brought in to score off of a single by Bradley Comer (UWSP), putting the Chucks at a 7-4 lead.
The scoring continued for the Woodchucks in the bottom of the 7th inning. Hill hit a double, was moved to third by fielder’s choice, then was brought home by a Dock Spiders error on a Kluvers single. Comer then hit a double, which plated Kluvers, extending the Woodchucks lead to 9-4.
The Woodchucks would not be satisfied with that, though. Levensteins provided the final three runs on a three-run home run in his final at bat as a Woodchuck in the bottom of the 8th. Wausau would finish its sweep of the series against Fond du Lac with a final score of 12-5.
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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. Having completed its’ 28th season, the Northwoods League is the largest organized baseball league in the world with 22 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, over 280 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 (NYM), two-time World Series Champions Ben Zobrist and Brandon Crawford (SFG) and World Series Champion Chris Sale (BOS). As well as 2019 Rookie of the Year and 2019/2021 Home Run Derby Champion Pete Alonso (NYM) and 2021 All-Star, MLB Gold Glove winner and 2019 Second Team All-MLB shortstop Marcus Semien (TEX). All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League website. League games are viewable live at watchnwl.com. For more information, visit 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]
