College baseball: Honkers look forward to a day off

Rochester Honkers infielder Adam Walton gets a force out at second base as Battle Creek's Brennon Lund slides in at Mayo Field on Thursday. Walton made the relay throw to first base for the double play.

By Guy N. Limbeck, <a href="mailto:glimbeck@postbulletin.com">glimbeck@postbulletin.com</a>

July 03, 2015 at 2:33 AM

Baseball players in the Northwoods League don't have a lot of free time, so members of the Rochester Honkers intend to enjoy a rare off day on Saturday.

The Honkers are playing 72 games in a 76-day stretch during the regular season. They have just six off days, three of those are over the All-Star break and another is for the Northwoods League Showcase game.

"Off days are huge," Honkers outfielder Ryan Summers said. "They're great for the body, too."

The Honkers were also off this Monday, but that respite was followed by a day-night, home-road doubleheader with Waterloo on Tuesday.

With all the games, the Honkers are looking forward to Saturday's break, which is the 4th of July.

"I think they're looking forward to that a lot," Honkers manager Trevor Hairgrove said.

"It's special," Honkers first baseman/catcher Dempsey Grover said. "We'll probably hang out with the host family and see what Minnesota has to offer."

This is Family Week in the Northwoods League. Hairgrove said about half the players on the team have their families visiting.

"There aren't a lot of days off," Hairgrove said. "It gives them a chance to get off their feet."

Plenty of players will probably just hang out, watch movies, maybe lift some weights or even try to take in some of the area sites.

"I might try to go to the Mall of America," Summers, a native of Westfield, Mass., said. "That's on the bucket list."

Grover said a trip to the Mississippi River might be on his agenda. But he also wants to rest up.

"For our bodies, it's very nice," he said.

Hairgrove agreed. For a home game, players are often at the park for about eight hours. And of course travel is an added burden.

"Whenever you get a day off, it's great for the kids, the coaches and ownership as well," Hairgrove said.

The Honkers will host the Mankato MoonDogs at 7 p.m. today before getting their one-day break Saturday. Then after the one-day break, the Honkers will return for a home game on Sunday. With Thursday's 3-2 win over Battle Creek, they are off to a quick 2-0 start in the second half of the season.

"It's nice to get the first two wins in the second half," Grover said. "We're looking to earn a playoff spot."