GAME NOTES:

St. Cloud Rox (1-1) vs. Badlands Big Sticks (1-1)

WHEN: May 27th + May 28th @ 6:35 PM MDT

WHERE: Dakota Bank Community and Trust Ballpark

WATCH: FloSports

LISTEN: Granite City Sports Radio, 93.9FM & 1390 AM

 

The St. Cloud Rox continue their road trip to Dickinson, ND, to take on the Big Sticks in the opening series of the 2026 Northwoods League season. The Big Sticks are celebrating their home opener after a trip to Minot, ND, and do so with “Medora Night”.

 

Probable Pitchers:

 

GAME 1: (STC) #18 RHP ETHAN PALUMBO vs. (BBS) #37 LHP ISAMEL QUINTERO

STC: Palumbo, one of several American River College products on the roster, will take the mound first for the Rox in Dickinson. He registered an ERA of 4.08 in his sophomore season, with 13 games started out of 21 appearances. He punched out 59 batters in 88.1IP, a true ironman for the Beavers.

BBS: Quintero returns for season two in Dickinson after an all-star selection in 2025. His 14 appearances with Cal State LA this spring were split between closing and starting roles.

 

Game 2: (STC) #26 RHP JACOB GALLOWAY vs (BBS) TBD

STC: Galloway hails from Hinds Community College, where he worked his way into a starting spot this spring. Through 62.1 innings, he allowed 42 runs, setting his average at 4.48. He attacks the strike zone, ringing up 55 batters this year.

BBS: TBD

 

2 DOWN, 68 TO GO: Both the Rox and the Big Sticks split their respective opening series opponents in North Dakota. 

St. Cloud travelled to Bismarck to take on the Larks, winning 6-5 on Opening Day before losing 18-8 the next night. After Badlands, they welcome the Larks to Minnesota for their home opener.

The Big Sticks played a pair of nail-biters on the road against the Minot Hot Tots. They lost 4-3 on Opening Day, but are riding the high of a 13-12 victory in 11 innings.

 

HISTORY SPOILED: St. Cloud was welcomed to Bismarck by a sold-out crowd on Opening Day, celebrating the 10th anniversary of the Larks. The 6-5 victory was the first Opening Day Loss in Larks franchise history.

 

STUDDARD STAPLES STAY: In the Opening Day victory, the Rox successfully executed their first double steal of the year; with runners on the corners, Cole Decker scampered to second base, resulting in a Nolan Geislinger run to regain the lead, 3-2, in the top of the third inning. 

 

TOGETHER AGAIN: Hunter Poe and Adam Trevino, fellow pitchers at McMurry University, both appeared for St. Cloud on Opening Day. 

Poe started on the hill, posting 4.1 innings and allowing four runs to Bismarck. Trevino begins the year as the Rox’ closer, and he notched his first save by shutting down a Larks rally in the final inning.

 

ADAM ARRIVES: Trevino returns to Badlands after spending last summer with the Big Sticks. There, he appeared in 14 games, tossing an ERA at 3.32 with 18 punchouts across 21.2 innings. In his appearances last year against St. Cloud, he allowed just one hit in 2.2 innings.

 

TANNER TAKES OFF: Tanner Recchio has stolen 3 bases in two games already for the Rox. After breaking the single-season record for swiped bags last summer with 34, Recchio is on pace to shatter his mark, hustling out the 2nd-most successfully across the league.

 

DUGOUT SHUFFLES: Rox Field Manager Nick Studdard and assistant Beau Kirsch coach an LSU-Eunice team competing in the Junior College World Series in Grand Junction, CO. The Bengals had appeared in the Division II World Series in 10 straight seasons from 2014 to 2024 before moving to Division I; there, it took just a season to return to the dance. While the Bengals look for another championship, Rox coaches Nick Studdard and Beau Kirsch will miss the trip to North Dakota.

 

MALINA’S MOVE-IN: The Big Sticks begin the Moses Malina regime in 2026. Malina has spent his last three summers with the Senguin River Monsters and Victoria Generals of the Texas Collegiate League, both in assisting roles. During the academic year, Malina coaches at Canyon High School in New Braunfels, TX

 

ARMS RACE: Badlands has used nine pitchers through their first two outings, with seven of those arms hucking two innings or more. Their two starters, Trevor Breaux and Jacob Courtney, combined for 5.1IP across the series.

By comparison, St. Cloud has used 10 pitchers so far, but only four have eclipsed two innings in their appearances.

 

RUN IT BACK: The Rox begin the season with 4 returners from a group last year that won the Great Plains West First Half Championship

Carter Jorissen, catcher: Jorissen was the MVP of the Rox in the 2025 campaign, and was awarded with an All-Star selection. After his summer in the Northwoods, the junior transferred to CSU Bakersfield, where he bat .250 in 16 games played.

Tanner Recchio, INF: Recchio returns after breaking the Rox single-season stolen base record in 2025, swiping 34 bags in his 44 games played. He hustled out 39 more this year with the Tommies of St. Thomas, while hitting .305 with an OPS of .821.

Nolan Geislinger, OF: The freshman from Iowa Western won the “Finest In the Field” award, given  to the three players in the Northwoods League with a perfect fielding percentage. Geislinger recently announced a commitment to the Oregon Ducks after a season with an OPS at 1.069.

Alex Dupuy, UTL: The UAB Dragon comes back to St. Cloud for year 2 with the Rox after serving as a two-way player in 2025. Dupuy first was an LSUE Bengal, recruited to the Rox by Field Manager Nick Studdard.

 

UP NEXT: The Rox head back to Minnesota for their home opener on June 29 against the Bismarck Larks. They will stay in the state until June 4, with games against Bismarck and Willmar before a trip to Minot, ND.

The Big Sticks catch a breath after the Rox series, with off days on Friday and Saturday before taking on the Duluth Huskies to end their May slate. Next, they head to Mankato to square off against the Moondogs.