ST. CLOUD ROX VS BADLANDS BIG STICKS

June 30 – July 1

Dakota Community Bank & Trust Field (Dickinson, ND)

 

Tuesday, June 30 – 5:35 p.m. CST

Pitching: RHP Emerson McKnight (0-0, 2.35 ERA) vs. TBA 

Watch: FloSports 

Listen: 93.9FM/1390 AM Granite City Sports Radio 

Wednesday, July 1 – 5:35 p.m. CST

Pitching: RHP Hunter Poe (4-1, 3.31 ERA) vs. TBA 

Watch: FloSports 

Listen: 93.9FM/1390 AM Granite City Sports Radio 

Follow the Game  

• Follow along to every Northwoods League game on the NWL scoreboard, and get up to the minute information with the Play-by-Play feature.  

• All matchups, home and away, can be streamed on FloSports with a subscription.  

• Every game of the 2026 season can be heard on 93.9FM and 1390AM Granite City Sports Radio, and on the Granite City Sports website. Dylan Budd, Danny Berg, and Riley Klaus call every game from the Eide Chrysler St. Cloud Studios. 

 

St. Cloud vs. Badlands

• This is the third series between the Rox and Big Sticks this year, with six games already concluded.
• The Rox are ahead this year, with five wins to just one for Badlands.
• The Rox will return to Dickinson on June 16, for the next chapter between the two.

Recounting Bismarck

The Rox won both of their contests against the Bismarck Larks to end the first half on a high note. 

On Sunday, St. Cloud blanked the Larks while dropping double-digits from their own camp, winning 12-0 when the dust settled. Aidan Mouton dazzled, going 3-4 with two RBI, two walks, a run, and a stolen base. Tyler Phenow earned his second win with a staple win, allowing just one hit and three total baserunners in 5.2 innings, while ringing up seven Larks.

The next day, the Rox were victorious once more, surpassing Bismarck 9-4. Lucas Harrington got the win after two innings, two hits and no runs allowed, and three strikeouts. Colton Rother led the bats, going 2-4 with three RBI and a walk.

Down to Dyersville

With St. Cloud’s victory and La Crosse’s defeat on Monday, the Rox clinched the best record across the Great Plains, at 24-12. This means for the second straight year, Field Manager Nick Studdard and his staff will represent the Great Plains as coaches in the All-Star Game. Studdard is assisted by hitting coach Beau Kirsch of LSU-Eunice, and pitching coach Chris Garcia of American River College.

A New Half

Tuesday is the first game in the Northwoods League second half. The Rox first half saw numerous victories; the team finished 24-12, the most wins across the league, and were the first across the Northwoods to clinch a playoff spot, topping the Great Plains West. The Rox are playoff bound for the 8th straight season.

Arms Race

St. Cloud leads the Northwoods League in overall pitcher wins, joined at the hip with the Madison Mallards at 24. Hunter Poe and Lucas Harrington leads the department, with four. After the two sees a spattering of two-win pitchers, including Tyler Phenow, Ethan Felling, Eli Lamb, Brady Ferguson, and K.J. Hart. The Rox hold a combined ERA of 4.72, good for sixth in the league and third in the Great Plains.

Star-Studded

Four Rox were elected into the All-Star Game in Dyersville, Iowa, taking place on July 8. Three pitchers and one position player got nods, including:

• Nolan Geislinger: The Oregon Duck boasts a top on-base percentage in the Northwoods League at .493, seventh in the Woods. He’s currently batting .299, with 32 hits, 31 runs, and 30 RBI.
• Ethan Felling: Felling began the year as a long reliever, and earned a spot in the starting rotation. He leads the team in strikeouts at 34, and holds an ever-impressive earned run average at 1.85.
• Brady Ferguson: “Fergie”, as he is affectionately dubbed by his Rox teammates, is another arm who fought into a starting role. He’s registered 26 strikeouts through 17.1 innings of work.
• Brandon Jaenke: his third straight all-star appearance in his fifth year with the Rox, Jaenke still holds a perfect earned run average after 10 innings and five saves.

McKnight In Shining Armor

Emerson McKnight will start for the second time this season, with both coming against the Big Sticks. On June 23, the Kansas Jayhawk twirled 4 scoreless innings, allowing just five baserunners; three hits and two walks, with three strikeouts to pair.

 

Poe Packs Again

Hunter Poe leaves the Rockpile for the first time since June 7th. He’s had three straight starts at Joe Faber Field, all coming after three straight road appearances. In his past three starts, Poe has allowed just four runs in 14 innings, with seven strikeouts. On the road, Poe has 18.2 innings of work, and only 10 runs with 11 strikeouts.

 

Walking Through the Woods

The first half has concluded in the league. The winners are as follows:

• Great Plains West: St. Cloud Rox (24-12)
• Great Plains East: La Crosse Loggers (22-13)
• Great Lakes West: Madison Mallards (24-10)
• Great Lakes East: Kenosha Kingfish (21-14)

Atop each division, with their coaches represented in the All-Star Game:

• Great Plains: St. Cloud Rox (24-12)
• Great Lakes: Madison Mallards (24-10)

  

About Faber Field  

Joe Faber Field is located on the westside of St. Cloud in the city’s Municipal Athletic Complex.  The complex features two of the finest baseball fields in the state – Dick Putz Field and Joe Faber Field. Additionally, the complex features Veterans Public Golf Course and two ice arenas, Torrey Arena and Ritsche Arena. The park opened in 1998 and has a capacity of 2,000 people.   

  

Attend a Rox Game 

Fans can visit stcloudrox.com and hover over the drop-down “Tickets” menu on the homepage. Fans can also call 320-240-9798 for ticket information, or can visit the ticket office inside the Municipal Athletic Complex’s ice arena lobby during regular business hours. 

 

Up Next  

The Rox come back to Joe Faber Field after the Big Sticks pair for another two games against the Bismarck Larks before celebrating July 4 with the day off. The next day, they’ll embark to Mankato for another two-game set to enter the all-star break.