ROCHESTER, Minn. – The bats came alive and the pitching was in mid-season form as the Thunder Bay Border Cats rolled to an Opening Day win on the road.
Thunder Bay starter Tyrus Riley, making his Northwoods League debut, and returning veteran Griffin Cato no-hit the host Rochester Honkers through five innings and five Border Cats pitchers surrendered just two hits in total on the night, en route to a 6-1 triumph.
Greg LaChance went 3-for-4 at the plate for Thunder Bay, who jumped all over Honkers starter Sadier Vicioso for three runs in the first, in a game delayed nearly two hours by rain.
LaChance, who finished 3-for-4 on the night, doubled with one out on the first and later scored on Ty Hamilton’s bases-loaded walk.
The Border Cats sent eight men to the plate in the first.
LaChance scored a second time in the third, coming home on Jackson Cooke’s double to centre. Cooke was at it again in the fifth, reaching on an error that scored Logan McIntyre from second.
LaChance provided the visitor’s final run of the night, singling in Kenneth Sugi on a single past Rochester third baseman Griffin Olson.
Rochester’s Cooper Schwindt finally broke up the no-hit bid with the bases loaded and two out in the sixth, singling home a run off Thunder Bay reliever Trevor Baugh.
Their only other hit came in the eighth, a Noah Rodriguez leadoff double off of Border Cats reliever Peter Fusek.
Fusek split time between the outfield and the pitching mound with the Border Cats in 2023.
The Cats and Honkers meet up again on Tuesday night at Mayo Field.
Thunder Bay’s home opener is Friday night at 7:35 p.m. at Port Arthur Stadium against the Minnesota Mud Puppies. Fireworks will follow the game.
