August 8, 2026
ST. CLOUD, MN – The St. Cloud Rox (42-27) closed the regular season with a 7-2 victory over the Minot Hot Tots (26-44) on Saturday ahead of the first game of the playoffs on Sunday, which will be on the road at 5:05 PM.
The Rox clinched the best regular-season win percentage in the Great Plains West, which means the Rox have home-field advantage in a best-of-three series against the Willmar Stingers to open the postseason. The first playoff game at Joe Faber Field will be on Monday, August 10th, and you can purchase playoff tickets here.
The Rox scored in each of the first three innings to take an early 5-0 lead over Minot. In the bottom of the first, Colton Rother (University of Kansas) hit an RBI single to take the 1-0 advantage.
Jaixen Frost (University of Iowa) drove in two with a double in the bottom of the second, and later reached home on a groundout from Owen Estabrook (Columbia University) to extend the lead to four. Estabrook added a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the third to further the advantage to 5-0.
Jack Haag (Northeastern State University) received the start on the mound and impressed in his first start of the season. Haag shut down the Minot offense for six innings, holding the Hot Tots scoreless and striking out four batters.
The offense picked up again in the seventh and eighth innings, with Aidan Mouton (University of Kansas) and Levi Nyberg (American River CC) claiming RBI singles to extend the lead back up to five at 7-2.
The victory secured a sweep of the Hot Tots to end the regular season ahead of the playoffs beginning on Sunday.
The All-Star Trophy and Awards Star of the Game is Jack Haag.
The Rox travel to Willmar on Sunday, August 9th, for game one in a best-of-three at 5:05 PM to begin the postseason.
The 2026 season is presented by Eide Chrysler St. Cloud.
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