The Thunder Bay Border Cats offence started strong.
Unfortunately their pitching couldn’t hold an early 3-0 lead. Not even close.
Brett Fanning was torched for nine runs over five innings, eight of them coming in the first two frames of the night as the host Waterloo Bucks demolished the Cats 14-4 on Monday.
Pat MacKenzie, Jon McAllister, Connor McClain and Blake Berger each rapped out three hits for the Bucks, who took over sole possession for first place in the Northwoods League North Division, a half game ahead of first-half champion Willmar.
McClain drove in three, with two-RBI nights going to MacKenzie, Kevin Kaczmarski, Berger and Mikal Hill.
Christian Correa hit a two-run homer in the first for Thunder Bay.
Alec Knop earned the win, the loss going to Fanning, his first.