ST. CLOUD ROX vs. WILLMAR STINGERS

August 9-11 – Great Plains Sub-Divisional Series 

Bill Taunton Stadium (Willmar, Minnesota) | Joe Faber Field (St. Cloud, Minnesota) 

 

St. Cloud: 42-27 | 24-12 first half, 18-15 second half 

Willmar: 37-33 | 16-20 first half, 21-13 second half 

 

Game 1: Sunday, August 9 – 5:05 p.m. | Bill Taunton Stadium 

Pitching: LHP Emerson McKnight (3-1, 2.25 ERA) vs. TBA 

Watch: FloSports 

Listen: 93.9FM/1390 AM Granite City Sports Radio 

Click here to purchase tickets. 

 

Game 2: Monday, August 10 – 6:35 p.m. | Joe Faber Field 

Pitching: RHP Manning West (4-1, 4.58 ERA) vs. TBA 

Watch: FloSports 

Listen: 93.9FM/1390 AM Granite City Sports Radio 

Click here to purchase tickets. 

 

Game 3 (if necessary): Tuesday, August 11 – Time TBA | Joe Faber Field 

Pitching: TBA vs. TBA 

Watch: FloSports 

Listen: 93.9FM/1390 AM Granite City Sports Radio 

Click here to purchase tickets. 

 

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. Willmar 

• The Rox and Stingers have met 146 times in the regular season, with the Rox leading 74-72. 

• St. Cloud won the season series against Willmar 7 games to 5. The Rox won four of the six games played at home, and split the six games with the Stingers at Bill Taunton Stadium. 

• The teams have now met in the playoffs in six different years, with the Rox winning four of the five prior series. They met in 2016, 2017, 2022, 2023, and 2024. Willmar and St. Cloud have met a total of nine times in postseason action. 

• Last season, the Rox won seven of the 12 meetings against the Stingers, including four of the last five games. St. Cloud went 5-1 at the Rockpile against Willmar, compared to 2-4 on the road.  

• St. Cloud has now recorded four winning seasons against Willmar in the last six years, not including playoffs. 

 

Northwoods League Playoff Bracket 

Sub-Divisional Series: August 9-11 

• Great Plains West 

• • Game 1: St. Cloud Rox vs. Willmar Stingers – 5:05 p.m. CT 

• • Game 2: Willmar Stingers vs. St. Cloud Rox – 6:35 p.m. CT 

• • Game 3 (if nec.) : Willmar Stingers vs. St. Cloud Rox 

• Great Plains East 

• • Game 1: Eau Claire Express vs. La Crosse Loggers – 5 :05 p.m. CT 

• • Game 2: La Crosse Loggers vs. Eau Claire Express – 6 :35 p.m. CT 

• • Game 3 (if nec.): La Crosse Loggers vs. Eau Claire Express 

• Great Lakes West 

• • Game 1: Lakeshore Chinooks vs. Madison Mallards – 4:05 p.m. CT 

• • Game 2: Madison Mallards vs. Lakeshore Chinooks – 6:35 p.m. CT 

• • Game 3 (if nec.): Madison Mallards vs. Lakeshore Chinooks 

• Great Lakes East 

• • Game 1: Kenosha Kingfish vs. Royal Oak Leprechauns – 6:35 p.m. ET/5:35 p.m. CT 

• • Game 2: Royal Oak Leprechauns vs. Kenosha Kingfish – 6:35 p.m. CT 

• • Game 3 (if nec.): Royal Oak Leprechauns vs. Kenosha Kingfish 

Division Championships: August 12 (projected) 

• Great Plains 

• • Great Plains West vs. Great Plains East

• Great Lakes 

• • Team TBD vs. Team TBD 

• • Order of home field advantage: Lakeshore, Royal Oak, Madison, Kenosha 

 

Northwoods League Championship: August 13 (projected) 

• Team TBD vs. Team TBD 

• Order of home field advantage: Eau Claire, La Crosse, Lakeshore, St. Cloud, Royal Oak, Madison, Willmar, Kenosha 

 

NOTE: Division/Northwoods League Championship dates can be adjusted based on the results of the sub-divisional series. 

 

Rox in the Postseason 

The St. Cloud Rox have made the postseason in every full Northwoods League season since 2017. They have had typically good results in the postseason but are still searching for their first title since 2017. 

• 2021: Swept Mankato in sub-divisional series, beat Waterloo in Great Plains championship, lost to Traverse City in Northwoods League championship. 

• 2022: Swept by Willmar in sub-divisional series. 

• 2023: Swept Willmar in sub-divisional series, beat La Crosse in Great Plains championship, lost to Green Bay in Northwoods League championship. 

• 2024: Beat Willmar in three games in sub-divisional series, lost to La Crosse in Great Plains championship. 

• 2025: Lost to Mankato in three games in sub-divisional series. 

 

How Important is Game 1?

In a three-game series, winning the first game is paramount to leading to success in future games, including further rounds. In the last five years, here are the results of sub-divisional series and how it turned out:

• 2025: All four teams that won Game 1 went on to win the series. Three of them swept.
• 2024: Two of the four teams that won Game 1 went on to win the series. Only one team swept.
• 2023: All four teams that won Game 1 went on to win the series. Three of them swept.
• 2022: All four teams that won Game 1 went on to win the series. Three of them swept.
• 2021: All four teams that won Game 1 went on to win the series. Three of them swept. The one team that didn’t sweep were the eventual champions, Traverse City.

In 20 series, only two teams that lost game one went on to win the sub-divisional series, and both of those teams (St. Cloud and Madison) lost in the division championship game. 13 of the 20 series ended in sweeps.

In addition, three of the last five Northwoods League champions went 4-0 in the postseason. 2024 Kalamazoo and 2021 Traverse City went 4-1.

 

Recounting Minot 

The Rox finished the regular season with a two-game series against the Minot Hot Tots, splitting/sweeping the series with their friends from northern North Dakota. 

Friday saw the Rox snap their three-game losing skid with a comfortable 7-1 win over the Hot Tots. St. Cloud scored three runs in the first inning, highlighted by a RBI double from Brett White, and three more in the third, where White hit a two-run home run to right field. The Rox got one more in the eighth inning on a Jaixen Frost RBI double, and the pitchers did the rest. Colin Fike got the start and tossed four strong innings, striking out four and allowed the lone run of the game. The quartet of Judson Funderburk, Dylan Lewkutz, Manning West, and Lucas Harrington kept Minot off the board, striking out a combined seven batters and allowed just one hit combined. 

Saturday watched the Rox jump out to an early 5-0 lead after just three innings, showcased by a two-RBI double by Jaixen Frost as part of a three-run second inning. St. Cloud added insurance runs late in the game thanks to an Aidan Mouton RBI single and Levi Nyberg getting his first RBI with the Rox, propelling St. Cloud to a 7-2 win. The biggest contribution of the day came from the pitching staff, where in just his third appearance for the Rox, Jack Haag delivered a quality start and shoved six scoreless innings, striking out four and allowing just four hits. Cole Prasse, Anthony St. Vincent, and Hunter Poe gave scoreless outings in relief to keep the Hot Tots at bay. Brett White finished the day 3-for-4 with two runs and a double, Owen Estabrook had two RBIs, Frost finished with three hits, and Mouton had two knocks. 

 

Rox Announce Team Awards 

On August 9, the St. Cloud Rox organization announced their 2026 team MVP and pitcher of the year awards before their contest against the Minot Hot Tots. 

Tanner Recchio has been named the Rox Team MVP for the season. Recchio has played a major role in the Rox running game, breaking multiple stolen base records throughout the season. He slashed .282/.449/.341 in the regular season, scoring 75 runs and even hit his first home run with the Rox in early June.  

Emerson McKnight has been named the Rox Pitcher of the Year for the season. McKnight began his Rox tenure as a bullpen piece through his first three outings, but his complete game shutout on June 30 thrust him into the conversation for being the top pitcher on the team. Since June 30, McKnight has delivered three quality starts in six tries, getting to five or more innings every time, and striking out at least six every time. McKnight has put together three 10-strikeout performances, including an 11 spot in his August 3 start against Mankato. McKnight has pitched to a 2.25 ERA in the regular season with an 0.98 WHIP.  

 

Recchio’s Records 

Utility man Tanner Recchio is known for his speed, and his speed has killed opponents in their game planning. He looks to continue to make his mark on the Rox record books. 

In the late game of the July 23 double-header against Thunder Bay, Recchio stole his 67th base of the 2026 season, officially tying him with Larry Edwards’ mark that he set last season. Recchio accomplished the feat in 51 games, while Edwards needed 69 to reach it last year. 

After setting the new Rox single-season stolen base record at 34 last season, Recchio surpassed that number on July 3 by taking his 35th base of the season. He needed 44 games to steal 34 bases in 2025 and needed just 35 games this year to take 35 bases. 

He broke the NWL stolen base mark on June 21, swiping his 91st career bag against the Minot Hot Tots. Recchio stole 34 bases apiece in 2023 with the Minnesota Mud Puppies and in 2025 with St. Cloud. 

The record was held for 18 years by Joey Bonadonna, who stole 90 bases for the Duluth Huskies and the Madison Mallards from 2005-2008. Bonadonna played three seasons in Minor League Baseball, getting 600 at-bats and took 42 bases. Larry Edwards also had 90 in his league career entering 2026, and was the fastest to do so, getting the accolade in 116 games. Recchio eclipsed the mark in 111 games. 

Recchio has become the third St. Cloud player to be in the Northwoods League record book. Chris DeMara recorded four shutouts in 2001, and Britt Carmicheal pitched 80 games from 1997 to 1999. 

 

Rox against the Northwoods League 

Now that the regular season has concluded, the Rox placed high in many offensive and defensive ranks across the Northwoods League. 

Offense 

• 1st in stolen bases (287) 

• 1st in on-base percentage (.423) 

• 1st in hit batsmen (136) 

• 2nd in walks (488) 

• 2nd in sacrifice flies (47) 

• 2nd in sacrifice hits (23) 

• 2nd in total plate appearances (3003) 

• Averaging 43.5 per game 

• 3rd in hits (633) 

• 4th in batting average (.275) 

• 4th in runs (525) 

• 4th in triples (16) 

• 5th in runs batted in (446) 

Pitching 

• 2nd in doubles (85) 

• 2nd in home runs (33) 

• 3rd in team ERA (4.79) 

• 3rd in strikeouts (653) 

• 4th in earned runs (326) 

• 5th in runs allowed (380) 

 

Rox Bats Sting the Bees 

Through 12 games against the Willmar Stingers, several St. Cloud hitters have been able to break the hive on Willmar. 

• Owen Estabrook is 4-for-13 with four runs scored, a double, and two RBIs. He has walked nine times as well. 

• Jaixen Frost is 3-for-9 with a run scored and a double, walking four times, and recording two RBIs. 

• Brett Griffiths is 5-for-9 with eight runs scored, driving in three runs, and walking five times. 

• Carter Jorissen is 10-for-25 with six runs scored, two doubles, four RBIs and four walks. He has been hit four times and stolen a base as well. 

• Jackson Legg is 10-for-29 with eight runs scored, four doubles, and seven RBIs, He has walked 11 times and been hit twice. 

• Brett White is 6-for-18 with seven runs scored, four doubles, and eight RBIs. He has walked four times and been hit four times. 

 

Rox Records 

With the regular season over St. Cloud, there are multiple records that are within reach for the Rox to potentially match or break, along with records the Rox have already shattered. The records listed below do include statistics recorded in playoff games.  

• Runs scored | RECORD BROKEN 

• • Current: 525 

• • Previous record: 494, 2024  

• Runs batted in  

• • Current: 446 

• • Record: 455, 2024  

• Walks | RECORD BROKEN 

• • Current: 488 

• • Previous record: 467, 2023  

• On-base percentage  

• • Current: .423  

• • Record: .391, 2024  

• On-base plus slugging (OPS)  

• • Current: .793 

• • Record: .791, 2024  

• Stolen bases | RECORD BROKEN 

• • Current: 287 

• • Previous record: 186, 2025 

• Strikeouts (pitching)  

• • Current: 653 

• • Record: 695, 2023 

 

Rox to the Pros 

The 2026 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft was held on July 11 and 12 for eligible high school and college prospects to enter the professional ranks. A total of seven former Rox players were drafted by one of the 30 MLB teams. 

• Tyson LeBlanc (Kansas): Round 2, Pick 61 to the Detroit Tigers 

• Kade Lewis (Wake Forest): Round 4, Pick 132 to the Cleveland Guardians 

• Brady Ballinger (Kansas): Round 7, Pick 216 to the Detroit Tigers 

• Marcus Kruzan (Minnesota): Round 12, Pick 371 to the Milwaukee Brewers 

• Dallis Moran (Stetson): Round 16, Pick 474 to the St. Louis Cardinals 

• Weber Neels (Minnesota): Round 19, Pick 566 to the Arizona Diamondbacks 

• J.P. Robertson (Mississippi): Round 20, Pick 598 to the San Francisco Giants 

Additionally, the Rox had two pitchers on their 2026 roster earn undrafted free agent contracts post-All Star break. 

Righty Brady Stuart earned a contract with the Los Angeles Angels on July 16. Stuart pitched in three games for the Rox, with his best outing being his final one, going 2.2 innings against Mankato on July 15 and striking out three. Stuart is the reigning consensus Division 3 National Pitcher of the Year amongst multiple outlets, pitching to a 1.85 ERA in 18 outings with Endicott (MA). 

Rox closer Brandon Jaenke earned a contract with the Texas Rangers on July 17. Jaenke appeared in 11 games for St. Cloud this season, not allowing a single run and giving up just seven hits while striking out 22, and recorded five saves in the process. In his Rox career, which began in 2022, he pitched in 72 games as a member of the Rox. That includes two trips to the postseason and three appearances in the All-Star Game. He sports a record of 6-2 with 24 saves in 98 innings, pitching to a 3.58 ERA. Nearly half of the outs Jaenke recorded with the Rox were strikeouts, and finished with a 13.68 K/9. 

Learn more about the draftees here. 

 

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

Should the Rox win the best two-out-of-three series against the Willmar Stingers, they will travel to either the Eau Claire Express or the La Crosse Loggers for the Great Plains Championship game, a one-game sudden death matchup.

The game is projected to be played on Wednesday, August 12. However, the game can be moved to be played on Tuesday, August 11, if both teams participating in the game won their sub-divisional series in two games.