Duluth, MN — The fireworks for the 4th of July won't be the only ones going off in the Granite City tonight.

For the 3rd straight year, the Rox are going to the Northwoods League playoffs! St. Cloud won the North Division in the 1st half after posting a 25-11 record. It all came to be after an 8-1 win over the Huskies. The Rox dominated once again and won their 7th straight game and rolled to a 4 game sweep to close the first 36 games on a high note. 

St. Cloud allowed its only run in the 1st, and after that they scored 8 consecutive runs through the 4th to 8th innings en route to their 10th win this season by more than 5 runs. Robbie Palkert (Nebraska), Bobby Gauvreau (Minnesota State-Mankato), John Matthews (Kent State) and Brent Killam (Georgetown) combined to keep Duluth off the board and lower what is already the lowest ERA in the Northwoods League.

The Rox managed their first run of the game in the 4th inning after Shane Selman (McNeese State) ledoff with a walk, and Keaton Kringlen (BYU) hit a double after that. Those two scored later in the inning, and they would take the lead and power to the seven run win.

Cameron Eden (Cal) tallied 3 hits for the second straight game, while also driving in a run. Kringlen and Matthews also posted multiple hits. Angelo Altavilla (Nebraska) was the only player to record 2 RBIs, and also made a couple phenomenal plays at Shortstop to help out his teammates on the mound.

All around it was another strong group effort to lead STC to another win, and their consistency and high level of play has taken them to the playoffs. The Rox now head to Rochester to start the 2nd half of the season tomorrow night at 7:05 PM. Then the 1st half champs return home Thursday against the Honkers. There will be a Rox replica jersey giveaway presented by Coborn's, Times Media and 104.7 KCLD to the 1st 400 kids 14 and under in attendance.

The Division title also means St. Cloud will host a playoff game on Monday, August 14th. More information will be available soon to those looking to purchase tickets.

Today's Box Score.

Northwoods League Standings.

Oddly enough, the St. Cloud Times Player of the Game is given to the entire Rox team today. After 36 games, at some point each and every one has stepped up to contribute to a Rox win. St. Cloud finishes the 1st half with a 25-11 record, and 7 straight wins.

The St. Cloud Rox are a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwoods League. The 23-year-old summer collegiate 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 170 former Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including two- time Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer (WAS), two-time World Series Champion Ben Zobrist (CHC) and MLB All-Stars Chris Sale (BOS), Jordan Zimmermann (DET), Curtis Granderson (NYM) and Lucas Duda (NYM). All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League portal. For more information, visit www.stcloudrox.com or download the new Northwoods League Mobile App on the Apple App Store or on Google Play and set the Rox as your favorite team.