WILLMAR, MN – The Willmar Stingers swept the Minnesota Mud Puppies tonight, 11-5.

This marks the eighth straight win and a fourth straight series sweep for the Stingers. The is no doubt that the Stingers are the hottest team in the entirety of the Northwoods League.

The game started off with a bang with the Stingers scoring three runs in the bottom of the first with Drey Dirksen and Jakob Chrisitan both sending runners home.

The Stingers would score again in the bottom second to make the score 4-0 but the Mud Puppies were able to push back. They scored three runs of their own in the top of the third to cut the lead to one. Willmar would respond right back scoring two in the bottom of the third making the score 6-3.

After that, the Stingers didn’t look back. Will Hodo sent a three-run bomb to right field in the fifth inning. The game would finish 11-5 in Wilmar’s favor.

The MinnWest Technology Campus Player of the Game was Brett Bateman. Bateman went 3-4 with a double and an RBI. He found a way to cross home plate three times as the Golden Gopher had an excellent overall game.

The win would be given to relief pitcher Tucker Novotny. He pitched three innings and seven of his nine total outs were strikeouts. The loss was given to Mud Puppy starting pitcher Jacob Mrosko. It was his first of the year.

The Stingers have an extended All-Star break as their last two off-days of the season came right before the All-Star break. The Stingers have five All-Stars heading to Wisconsin Rapids to participate in the festivities. Those players include LHP Jack Habeck, RHP Sam Malec, RHP John Klein, C Drey Dirksen, and OF Joey Walls. Dirksen and Walls will all be participating in the 2022 Home Run Challenge representing the Great Plains.

After the All-Star break, the Stingers will be back on the road on July 21st to play the Rochester Honkers in search of their ninth straight win.