(Photo Courtesy: Lyle Ripplinger)
Written By: Cody Shook, Larks Broadcaster
WILLMAR, MN– Matt Warkentin was the brightest of many shining lights for the Bismarck Larks against the Willmar Stingers taking the first game in a two game road series by a score of 17-8. The Larks improve to 35-27-1 overall and 10-16-1 in the second half.
The Larks scored four runs in the top of the 1st inning to get the game started. Bruce Bell started on the mound for Bismarck and gave up one run in the bottom half but after that he would settle in.
In the top of the 2nd inning, Warkentin hit a grand slam in the midst of a six run inning which gave the Larks a 10-1 lead and after two innings the Larks already had double digit hits.
Warkentin finished the game with three hits and nine runs batted in, which earned him the Northwoods League player of the night honors.
Scoring in the first five innings, Bismarck jumped out to a huge 15-2 lead and after that the Larks coasted to a 17-8 victory.
The bats were alive at the plate recording 19 total hits and all but one Lark recorded a hit in the nine inning ball game. Seven Larks recorded more than one hit and three Larks recorded three hits.
Conner Bock drove in three runs and scored two of his own while hitting in the three spot in the Larks lineup. Jacob Nesbit scored a team high four runs while hitting in the clean-up spot.
Bell received the win on the mound after pitching five innings and allowing two earned runs. The bullpen took over after that, giving up six runs but keeping the game in favor of the Larks.
With this victory on the road over the Stingers, they handed Willmar just their sixth loss at home on the season.
The Larks won 17-8 and are now 35-27-1 on the season and 10-16-1 in the second half. The Larks will be back in action tonight against the Willmar Stingers before heading back home for two games against Mankato. Catch all the action on http://mixlr.com/larksbaseball/.
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The Bismarck Larks are a proud affiliate of the Northwoods League, the proven leader in development of elite college baseball players. The Larks mission is to use FUN to make a difference in the lives of our families, businesses, players, and communities we serve. This is accomplished with a commitment to putting fans first and providing high quality family entertainment at affordable prices. In 2017, the Larks sold out 27 of their 36 home games in Bismarck Municipal Ballpark, home of Dakota Community Bank and Trust Field, and were named the Northwoods League’s Organization of the Year.
The Northwoods League is the proven leader in the development of elite college baseball players. Entering its 25th anniversary season, the Northwoods League is the largest organized baseball league in the world with 20 teams, drawing significantly more fans, in a friendly ballpark experience, than any league of its kind. A valuable training ground for coaches, umpires and front office staff, more than 190 Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including three-time Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer (WAS), two-time World Series Champions Ben Zobrist (CHC) and Brandon Crawford (SFG) and MLB All-Stars Chris Sale (BOS), Jordan Zimmermann (DET) and Curtis Granderson (TOR). All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League website. For more information, visit www.northwoodsleague.com or download the Northwoods League Mobile App on the Apple App Store or on Google Play.
