THUNDER BAY – The post-game fireworks were delayed a couple of hours, but it was worth the wait.
The Thunder Bay Border Cats on Saturday needed 14 innings – and twice trailed in extras – but persevered to claim an 8-7 victory over the last-place Waterloo Bucks at Port Arthur Stadium, the once struggling team’s fifth win in six outings.
Cam Pearcey took one for the team, plating the winning run when he was plunked by Bucks reliever Kar Hirsch in the 14th with the bases loaded to deliver the victory that improved the Cats record to 11-22.
Waterloo led 3-1 over Thunder Bay starter Connor Centala after scoring twice in the third, but clawed within one in the bottom of the inning, Billy Cook doubling home Pearcey, who singled to open the frame.
They jumped in front 5-3 in the fourth to chase Waterloo starter Danny Kapala, sending nine batters to the plate.
Mark Vierling singled home a pair and scored on Brady Gulakowski’s bases-loaded walk.
The Bucks added a fourth run in the fifth off Centala, who left after a six-hit, three-walk outing, giving way to the bullpen in the sixth.
With Calvin Wood on the mound in relief, the Bucks Tate Samuelson tied it with a sacrifice fly in the seventh, scoring Trey Leonard, who singled to start the inning.
It would be five innings before another run crossed the plate.
The Bucks got to Cats reliever Andrew Gross in the 12th, Leonard singling, stealing second and scoring on an Angelo Altaville single.
It was Vierling to the rescue.
He doubled off Hirsch, Gunner Hellstrom racing around the bases to tie the game 6-6. He had reached on an error by Waterloo second baseman Kevin Welsh.
Luke Malone took over in the 13th for Thunder Bay and recorded two quick outs before Bendan Hueth reached and then scored an error by Thunder Bay second baseman Nick Conti, with Waterloo’s Welsh at the dish.
Once again the Border Cats had the answer.
Hirsch hit Cook to open the bottom of the 13th, who then stole second and scored on Conti’s grounder to third, the game ending at 12:34 a.m., a minute shy of the five-hour mark.
Hirsch (1-2) took the loss, while Malone evened his record at 1-1.
Thunder Bay is 11-22, while Waterloo dropped to 9-23.
The Cats and Bucks play a Canada Day game on Sunday at 1:35 p.m.
