Houts homer helps Cats sting Willmar

Garrett Houts homered in the fourth and the Thunder Bay Border Cats continued to play the role of spoiler on the final weekend of Northwoods League baseball play.

Houts’s drilled a 2-0 pitch over the wall off Willmar Stingers starter Michael Jahns (L, 3-2) in the fourth inning, what proved to be the winning run in Thunder Bay’s 2-1 win at Port Arthur Stadium Saturday night. The loss denied Willmar a chance to maintain a one-game North Division lead over St. Cloud, with just two days left on the regular season schedule.

Kenny Battiston drove in the only other run the Cats would need in the first, singling home lead-off hitter Sean Miller-Jones in support of starter Corey Pappel (W, 5-4).

Pappel allowed just five hits in seven-plus innings of work, striking out seven to move above .500. Paul Barton finished it off to earn his second save.