By Owen Patterson
MINOT, ND – Game one was all offense, game two was pitching. The Minot Hot Tots and Willmar Stingers split a day-night doubleheader at Corbett Field, setting up a big fourth game of the series tomorrow.
In game one, just after 9:00 am, the Hot Tots woke up and chose offense. A six-run first inning woke up the Hot Tots fans better than a cup of coffee would. In the second inning, Minot was back at it, extending the lead to 7-0. Even with the early deficit, the Willmar Stingers were not out of the game, and it showed in the fifth inning.
One after another, the Stingers would send thirteen batters to the plate as part of a nine-run inning to take their first lead, 10-7. The inning included a three-run home run by Andrew Sojka and solo shot by Colin Hynek. In a total turn of the tide, the Hot Tots were now the once piecing together a comeback bid. The Hot Tots closed in, but Willmar’s powerful bats kept the distance, winning in nine innings by a score of 14-11.
Top individual performances for the Tots included a three-hit game plus First Command Play of the Game by Caden Parker and a breakout game at the plate for Keanu Jacobs-Guishard. Jacobs-Guishard doubled and drove in two runs as part of a 2-for-5 game.
Six hours later, the Hot Tots again set the tone, this time with pitching. Starter Jakob Runkel would go five innings allowing two runs, all on a Willmar home run. Runkel’s start kept the Stingers at bay while Minot’s offense scored early again. The Tots lead 2-0 after two innings and 4-2 after five.
Following the fifth inning, Archer Stankowski was brought in to pitch for Minot, and did not disappoint. Trusting in his defense, Stankowski made it through two innings before allowing a run, which made the score 3-4, still in favor of the Hot Tots.
Before Minot could close the game in the ninth inning, Mateo Serna launched a massive two-run home run to right field to add more cushion for Stankowski, who would come out to pitch the top of the ninth. Stankowski, not used in closer role in either season, would finish off a twelve-out save and put an end to the Tots’ three-game losing skid.
Offensively, Evan Dempsey and Xavier Esquer led the way. Esquer, playing in his first games with the Hot Tots, put forth three hits in the winning effort. Dempsey would collect two hits and reach base four times. On the defensive side, Minot managed a clean game and no player had a bigger role in determining the outcome of the game than catcher Lucas Pringle. In fact, the game ended with Pringle picking off Stingers baserunner Maximus Martin at first base.
Game four of the series begins at 6:35 pm from Corbett Field as the Hot Tots look to creep closer to first-place Willmar and split the set two games apiece.
