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Five-run first sinks Border Cats against South Division champion Rafters

THUNDER BAY -- One bad inning seems to be a recurring theme for Thunder Bay Border Cats in 2016. On Sunday at Tbaytel Park it was the first frame.
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Border Cats shortstop Andy Weber on Sunday lays the tag down on Wisconsin Rapids' Demitrius Sims, who was called out on the play. (Leith Dunick, tbnewswatch.com)

THUNDER BAY -- One bad inning seems to be a recurring theme for Thunder Bay Border Cats in 2016.

On Sunday at Tbaytel Park it was the first frame.

Starter Cameron Churchill was rocked for five runs, went over the league pitch-count maximum and exited after the inning, the Border Cats trailing 5-0 before the Northwoods League team sent a single batter to the plate.

Dressed in the Thunder Bay Whiskey Jacks’ throwback colours, they’d go on to lose 5-1 to the Wisconsin Rapids Rafters.

Anthony Brocato was the lone bright light on offence for the Border Cats, pounding his team-leading seventh home-run of the season in the second, the only hit Rafters pitcher Jay Peters gave up in his first five innings of work.

The St. John’s University sophomore said individual stats don’t mean a lot in a team game like baseball.

“I don’t have much to say about that,” said Brocato, who represented his team at last week’s home-run derby in Kenosha, Wisc. and is second on the Border Cats with 21 RBI.

“I’d rather get a win and go to playoffs with the team.”

Manager Cole Mahoney-Bruer said too often this year the starting pitching hasn’t been ready and focused early in the game.

However, he’s confident they’ll figure it out in short order, pointing to Brandon Langan, who came out of the bullpen and tossed an immaculate four innings of relief, allowing just three hits.

His appearance came just three days after he was forced from a start against Rochester, allowing three runs while exceeding the pitch-count limit.

“He came back tonight and pitched really well,” Mahoney-Bruer said.

“After the first the bullpen was outstanding.”

All totalled, four Cats relievers tossed eight innings in support of Churchill, allowing just six hits, walking none and blanking the Rafters, the South Division first-half champions, the rest of the way.

If only they could erase the first.

Wisconsin Rapids’ Doak Dozier delivered the big blow in the opening inning, doubling home a pair of runs. Demitrius Sims scored on a passed ball, Logan Mattix came home on a wild pitch and Rob Calabrese singled in another run.

Peters, who had given up a combined 16 runs in his past three starts, said his two-hit performance is the result of extra-curricular work on his pitching.

“I just tried to keep the ball down. I’ve been working on a lot of things with (pitching coach John) Halama and my change-up really felt good today.”

The Cats didn’t do themselves any favours on the basepaths. Brocato was doubled off first on a deep drive to centre by Mitch Bigras in the fourth, then caught stealing in the seventh attempting to swipe second. Three Rapids runners were also caught stealing. 

Attendance was 1,103.

Thunder Bay has Monday off, then hosts Waterloo for a pair starting on Tuesday.



Leith Dunick

About the Author: Leith Dunick

A proud Nova Scotian who has called Thunder Bay home since 2002, Leith is Dougall Media's director of news, but still likes to tell your stories too. Wants his Expos back and to see Neil Young at least one more time. Twitter: @LeithDunick
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