THUNDER BAY – The Thunder Bay Border Cats refused to go away. In the end, however, it wasn't enough.
The Cats exploded for five runs in the fifth inning on Sunday night, a game delayed 85 minutes by rain, then piled on seven more in the sixth, keeping their playoff hopes alive for the time being with a 12-3 triumph at Port Arthur Stadium that eliminated their opponent, the Waterloo Bucks, from contention for the Northwoods League’s Great Plains East first-half crown.
Unfortunately, about an hour later the Border Cats were also eliminated, the La Crosse Loggers scoring a run in the top of the ninth to break a 4-4 tie and they went on to edge the host Badlands Big Sticks 5-4 to lay claim to the title and an automatic spot in the playoffs.
The news didn’t stop Border Cats manager Joe Ellison from heaping praise on his players, who hit their six-game home-stand needing to win all four games and get help from the Loggers, who needed to lose four straight to close out the opening half.
The Cats did their part, winning the first three games, but couldn’t control what happened in North Dakota.
“Their resiliency has been present all half and it kind of came to head today,” said Border Cats manager Joe Ellison, his team improving to 21-12.
“They were fantastic. It’s a tough day to be a pitcher, but we overcame and we found a way.”
Pitchers on both teams struggled with control all night long.
The Bucks, who held first place for a good chunk of the opening half, walked 18 batters, equalling the most walks issued by a team in one game this season.
The Cats walked 10 Waterloo batters, and only managed five hits on the night, the Bucks just six against a trio of Thunder Bay pitchers.
The damage in the fifth came with two outs.
Ty Hamilton doubled to plate the second run of the inning, the Cats evening things up 2-2. Greg Lachance walked with the bases loaded, as did Jordan Bach, chasing reliever Brady Baur, who took over from starter Eli Pillsbury to start the fifth.
Braedyn Cunningham promptly plunked Lucas Johnson to plate Kael Babin and the Border Cats took a 5-2 lead into the sixth.
The Cats quickly loaded the bases in the bottom of the sixth, then Hamilton and Babin, who walked five times in the game, drew back-to-back walks.
Duncan key scored on a double play, then Bach stepped up to the dish and bashed a 1-0 offering from Vincent Cicolello into the dog park beyond the right-field fence, part of a 2-for-4, three RBI night for the league’s leading hitter.
The Cats took a 12-2 advantage and never looked back.
Tyler Talbert got the start for Thunder Bay and lasted four innings, the only damage a two-run, second-inning single off the bat of Waterloo’s Owen Ross. He walked five and struck out three.
Carter Wall got the call from the bullpen and kept the Border Cats in the contest, allowing a single run on three hits, while striking out five.
He was the pitcher of record when the Cats put up crooked numbers in the fifth and sixth, and grabbed the win, improving to 3-0. Parker Burgess closed things out with a pair of scoreless innings to put the Bucks away.
It was the third straight win for Thunder Bay, who need to win their last four and get a little help from the La Crosse Loggers, who only need a win in their final two games to clinch the title and an automatic spot in the playoffs.
The Cats and Bucks wind up the first half on Monday, with a special 7:35 start time ahead of a Canada Day-eve fireworks show.
