THUNDER BAY – The Border Cats put on a record-setting show.
The Northwoods League team exploded for a franchise record 25 runs against the visiting Eau Claire Express, a game that saw every starting hitter cross the plate at least twice, forcing their opponent to grind through six pitchers, wishing Mother Nature’s fury had hung around a few more hours and had wiped out Saturday’s disastrous outing.
Crooked numbers were everywhere for the Border Cats, who put up five in the second, seven in the third, and four in each of the fourth, sixth and seventh frames, scoring the sixth most runs in a single game in league history – falling three shy of the record 28 scored by Rockford exactly five years to the day earlier against the Fond du Lac Spiders.
Junior Lopez started the ball rolling with a bases-loaded, three-run double in the second, but in all honesty, every player in the lineup could be singled out for something good.
Jeremy Sheffield continued his hot-hitting ways, blasting his fourth homer of the season – and third in four games – going 3-for-4 with four runs scored, three RBI, walking twice and getting hit once, one of six hit batsmen by the Express pitchers on the night.
Caleb Watkins doubled twice and scored four times and catcher Ayden Hadley had two hits, two walks, scored three times and plated three runners.
And Calivin Warrillow boosted his stats, going 3-for7 with two runs scored, two doubles and four RBI.
It was a great night all around, Warrillow said.
“Everyone was doing their jobs, gelling really well together, taking good ABs and it just kind of came together,” said Warrillow, the designated hitter in the first of two the Cats are playing this weekend against the Express at Port Arthur Stadium.
Hitting can be contagious, Warrillow added.
“One hundred per cent. If you see guys taking good swings, have good quality ABs, it gives you confidence you can do the same thing.”
It never feels bad to contribute, the Toronto native said.
“It was awesome to get some RBIs. I was glad I could contribute,” said Warrillow, who was unaware the 25 runs were the most scored by the Border Cats in a single game since the team was founded 22 years ago.
“It’s a huge deal. We’ve got a great group of guys and I’m glad we could do it.”
Braden Gluth got the start for Thunder Bay and lasted long enough to earn the win, though he had to convince manager Joe Elliott to let him finish out the fifth inning, the Border Cats skipper visiting the mound with two outs and a mind to pull the New Mexico right-hander one out shy of qualifying for the victory.
“It helps my stats, but it didn’t really matter to me. It was just fun to finish the inning, so I might as well finish it.”
As a pitcher, knowing you’re 14 runs to the good is an awfully good feeling, said Gluth, who improved to 2-0 on the season.
“Run support as a pitcher, it’s next level. You can do whatever you want with your pitching. You can throw whatever pitches you want – just throw it in there and let them get themselves out,” Gluth said. “It freed us up for a win and a lot of momentum going in for tomorrow.”
Eau Claire’s pitchers weren’t nearly as fortunate.
Starter Kale Hopke (0-1) had to depart after the second inning, a victim of the league’s maximum 35-pitch rule in a single inning.
He wouldn’t be the last to leave for surpassing the limit.
Zach Diver needed 52 pitches to escape the third, resulting in seven runs, though only two were earned. Joey Koch was chased after 36 pitches in the seventh, which led to the Cats final four runs of the night.
J.J. Moran homered twice for Eau Claire, both solo shots, adding a double for a three-hit night. The Express managed just seven hits on the night.
The game was delayed half an hour by rain.
The Cats and Express wrap up their series on Sunday. Game time is 1:35 p.m.
