The Minot Hot Tots and St. Cloud Rox are back at Corbett Field tonight for Native American Heritage Night. The Rox have already clinched two games in this series with a 7-3 win yesterday and a 7-2 win the day before. The Hot Tots are looking to recover and move into the “W” column for the first time in sixteen games against St. Cloud. 

     Coach Brian Lewis said earlier that he believes the lineup he has built for today’s game is the best one the Hot Tots have, but the big thing they are missing is timely hitting. He did highlight Christian Stratis and Matt Toomey as players who have been putting the barrel on the ball in recent games. Toomey is third in the lineup tonight while Stratis is fifth. Coach Lewis said they intentionally gave a few guys some rest yesterday in game two ahead of a challenging matchup in game three. He has sung the praises of today’s St. Cloud Rox starter, JP Robertson, who has yet to allow an earned run in 19.1 innings pitched. 

      The Hot Tots do have their ace facing off against Robertson today; CJ Hanson. Hanson was also the opening-day pitcher for Minot against the Rox and pitched against them again in St. Cloud. He is 0-3 on the season, but pitching coach Adam Lesco says not to be fooled by that. Hanson has a 3.66 ERA through 19.2 innings this season. The Hot Tots bullpen was also helped out significantly by a four-inning outing from Jackson Duncan last night that saved some arms. Coach Lesco and Coach Lewis agree that the number of arms they have available is still not ideal, but Duncan did help significantly for the remainder of this series.

      The Hot Tots and Rox play tonight at 6:35. Come to Corbett Field or tune into the broadcast on Northwoods League+.

Written by Ethan Jennings.