DICKINSON, ND – The Badlands Big Sticks (31-39 overall, 13-23 second half) ended the 2026 campaign on the road, grabbing the lead against the Mankato MoonDogs (37-33 overall, 22-14 second half) but ultimately dropping the season finale on a heartbreaking walk-off on Saturday evening.

 

The Big Sticks started the low-scoring affair with a single run in the top of the 1st inning. Dakota Howard (Southeastern) and Gavyn Schlotterback (Kansas) both reached on singles with one out, then Samson Pugh (UT – Tyler) singled to score Howard, making it 1-0.

 

Badlands then put up the second run of the game in the top of the 4th inning. Cougar Cooke (Arkansas State) reached on a hit by pitch then stole second base to put himself in scoring position. Moses Dokes (Dickinson State) then came up and hit an RBI single, increasing the lead to 2-0.

 

After a combined effort by Theodore Herce (Wharton County CC), Teagan Reisdorfer (Dawson CC), Logan Gutterman (Central Arizona), and Bridger Clontz (Colorado Mesa) kept the MoonDogs off the scoreboard for the first seven innings of the ballgame.

 

Eventually, Mankato rallied and scored a run in the bottom of the 8th inning, using doubles from Max Senesac and Sean Griggs to cut the lead in half.

 

Then, in the bottom of the 9th, the MoonDogs jumped all over Schlotterback, with Sam Erickson leading off the frame with a double, which was followed by Jonah DeJong grabbing a triple that scored Erickson.

 

Then, Mikey Valdivia hit a sacrifice fly, scoring DeJong and walking off the Big Sticks to end the 2026 Northwoods League season.

 

Badlands finished the season with a 31-39 overall record, winning 10 less games than in the 2025 Northwoods League campaign and failing to make the postseason for the third year running.

 

The Badlands Big Sticks give special thanks to all friends, family, and fans who supported the team during this campaign in the Northwoods League.