June 3^rd, ROCHESTER, MN – On a night when the Stingers needed a big pitching performance, they got it from one of their smallest arms. TJ Whidby (Central Arizona) changed speeds and placed his pitches masterfully to shut down the Rochester Honkers (4-2) and snapped the club’s three-game losing skid in a 5-1 victory.

  Whidby, who is listed at 5’10, beguiled batters with craftiness, casting a long and imposing shadow from the mound. It was the right-hander’s second appearance of the season, but his first start and it came at a time when Willmar (3-3) needed a strong outing.

    In the Stingers’ previous two games, pitchers had allowed 13 walks and the team ERA soared from 0.67 to 4.19. But that came to an abrupt halt tonight in Rochester as Whidby’s command and stuff baffled the Honkers over 7.1 innings.

  Whidby, though, was not alone in the reclamation of quality baseball by Willmar. The Stingers scored runs in the first three innings to stake a 4-0 lead.

  After a Max Dutto (Cal-Berkely) sacrifice that placed two runners in scoring position, Chris Barnett (Loyola Marymount) took advantage with a strong single that plated the pair and put Willmar ahead for good.  

  Right Hander Brett Dahlson pitched the final 1.2 innings, striking out two and shutting the door on any comeback that the Honkers mounted. The win sets the stage for Willmar to possibly match the Honkers record with another win Tuesday night. The probable starter is Steven Brault.

  The 2013 season is presented by Charter. For more on your Willmar Stingers please visit www.wctrib.com.