EAU CLAIRE, Wisc. – Brendan Dougherty singled home the winning run in the top of the 10th inning and the Thunder Bay Border Cats capped the first half of the Northwoods League season in a winning way.
It was a come-from-behind win for the Border Cats, who tied it with three in the eighth, the big blow Alex Sanchez’s two-run double off Eau Claire Express reliever Austin George.
The Cats would go on to win 5-4, reliever Evan Johnson tossing three innings of one-hit ball out of the bullpen to earn the victory.
Jake Mielock had a strong start for the visitors, giving up just two hits and leaving with a clean slate after five innings.
The Express jumped on his replacement, Connor Centala, who put the first two batters he faced on base with a walk and a single. An error and a groundout allowed a pair of runs to score and Eau Claire led 2-0 after six.
They struck for two more in the seventh, Rudy Scott singling home a pair of runs off Seth Rosenberg, who took over from Centala, who exited after loading the bases to start the inning.
Thunder Bay finished the first half at 13-22, but won five of the final 10 games. Eau Claire was a game-and-a-half better at 15-21.
Both teams finished well back of the opening-half champion St. Cloud Rox, who secured their 13th post-season appearance in 20 seasons with a 25-11 mark.
The Wisconsin Rapids Rafters took the South Division crown at 27-9 and will make their second playoff appearance.
