MINOT, ND – Once the bats got rolling, they didn’t stop rolling on Monday night. The Minot Hot Tots defeated the Badlands Big Sticks in the season’s final matchup with a season-high in runs and timely hitting.

Minot did not lead the whole way. Badlands started the game with three hits and two runs in the top of the first, setting the bar for the Hot Tots to match. Minot did one better.

With the bases loaded and two out, Tyler Arnold hit a line drive into the left-center gap. The double brought all three baserunners in to score and the Tots took the lead. The big play from Arnold was a welcome sight as he has missed most of the last week of games with injuries.

Badlands had put a run-scoring threat together in the top of the second, but Hot Tots pitcher Ayden Sauerbrei got a fly out and strikeout to leave the bases loaded. The Big Sticks did tie the game in third inning, but Minot would get back in the lead before too long. Jaxon Goldberg broke out of a small slump with a two-RBI double moving the Minot lead to 6-3.

In the fourth inning, one swing would blow the game wide open. Two walks and a base hit had loaded the bases for Kole Dudding. He uncorked a home run swing on an inside curveball that dropped over the wall for a grand slam. With the lead up to seven, Minot just had to manage with their bullpen.

David Jennings made his season debut in the sixth inning allowing a run on two hits. Alex Moran had trouble in the seventh, but Kevin Rahe came in and got the Tots out of another bases-loaded jam. Rahe pitched a one-run eighth inning as well and Minot was still somewhat comfortably ahead, 11-7.

In an effort to put the game completely out of reach, the Hot Tots put up five runs in the eighth inning on two hits to make it 16-7. That kind of inning was commonplace on Monday. The Hot Tots scored a season-high sixteen runs on just nine hits. Three of the nine went for extra bases.

Clayton Stewart had no problems pitching to the Sticks in the ninth and Minot came away with the series split and a SkyDancer Casino Big Win

Minot finished the year 4-8 against the Big Sticks, falling short of reclaiming the rivalry trophy, but do pick up a win ahead of a crucial roadtrip.

The Hot Tots will be in Willmar for two nights where the division leaders reside. Minot must get on a win streak to stay in playoff contention with two weeks remaining.

Kole Dudding’s grand slam gave him the SportClips MVP nod and First Command Play of the Game recognition in his final home game. Clayton Stewart threw the SRT Fastest Pitch of 93 mph.