(Rochester, Minn.) – The Willmar Stingers were just able to edge out the Rochester Honkers 4-2 Thursday at Bill Taunton Stadium. The division leading Stingers improve to 23-11 in the second half and 45-24 overall. The Honkers snapped a two-game winning streak and fall to 16-17 and 33-36.
The Honkers were able to get out to an early lead in the first as Nate Webb (UC Riverside) led off the contest with a solo home run. For Webb, it was his fourth home run of the year and the second game in a row in which he has homered in.
Willmar was able to respond and tie the game at one in the second. Shea Kramer (Utah) singled to bring home the equalizing run for the Stingers.
In the fourth, Kramer gave Willmar a 2-1 lead by driving a sacrifice fly. Willmar extended their lead in the sixth on a two-run home run off the bat of Jayson Newman (Cal State Northridge) to give the Stingers a 4-1 lead.
The Honkers fought back in the seventh. Christian Robinson (Stanford) doubled to bring home Michael Michalak (Illinois) and cut Willmar’s lead to 4-2.
Honkers starting pitcher Logan Nissen (Bethany Lutheran) was tagged with his first loss of the year. Nissen tossed four innings surrendering two runs on four hits. Ryan Dorney (St. Martin’s) came in relief to work two innings and give up two runs on two hits. Just one of the runs was an earned run. Jack Nelson (St. Marys) pitched two scoreless innings to keep the Honkers in the game.
Willmar starting pitcher Louie Varland (Concordia-St. Paul) picked up his fourth win of the summer. Varland worked six innings giving up one run on three hits.
The Honkers are back at Bill Taunton Stadium Friday to take on the same Willmar Stingers. The two teams probable pitchers are to be determined. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.
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The Rochester Honkers are a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwoods League. Now in 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, 200 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 portal. For more information, visit www.rochesterhonkers.com or download the new Northwoods League Mobile App on the Apple App Store or on Google Play and set the Honkers as your favorite team.
