THUNDER BAY – Mercifully, at this point, the home portion of the Thunder Bay Border Cats schedule is complete.
The Cats on Tuesday night wrapped up 2023 play at Port Arthur Stadium, turned on by the visiting La Crosse Loggers, who scored nine runs in the first inning and went on to a lopsided 17-1 win over a depleted Thunder Bay squad simply trying to finish the season as quickly as possible.
It was the second straight lopsided loss for the Border Cats in the two-game series, after Monday’s 19-5 trouncing by the Loggers, the second-half champions in the Great Plains East Division.
The Loggers had 19 hits against the Cats, including a 2-for-6 performance by catcher Danny Neri, a night that included a home run and five RBI. Mic Paul, Matthew Piotrowski and Aldan Sweatt had two RBI apiece for La Crosse, who led 16-0 before Thunder Bay scored its one and only run of the night in the bottom of the fourth.
Blake Warner singled with one out in the fourth, then took second on Cade Marquardt’s infield single. Warner then scored on an error by Sweatt, the La Crosse shortstop.
Michael Pirrello drew the start for Thunder Bay and lasted just two-thirds of an inning, giving up nine runs on eight hits and a pair of walks, also surrendering the home run to Neri. Ryan Vondraceck and Zack Reid surrendered four runs apiece before Jack Carlson came on to pitch a scoreless ninth.
Dylan Lapic, who subbed in for starter Ben Zeigler-Namoa, picked up the win, his first decision of the season. Pirrello (1-2) took the loss. The Border Cats (10-22) head to Willmar on Wednesday for a set against the Stingers (21-8).
