Minot, ND- The Willmar Stingers picked up their third consecutive win on Wednesday with a close 4-3 victory over the Minot Hot Tots.
Each team scored in the first inning as the Stingers wasted no time loading the bases with no one out and Scott Anderson took advantage to give Willmar the lead with a sac fly.
Minot responded quickly as Brannon Mondragon launched a two-run homer to put the Hot Tots up 2-1.
The Stingers tied it up in the next half inning with Jack Hines hitting an RBI single to drive Kasten Furr home.
After seeing runs come across in the first inning, Stingers starting pitcher Ray Cebulski would hold the Hot Tots scoreless in the next five innings.
Neither team would crack the scoreboard until the bottom of the eighth inning where Hemponix Relief Pitcher of the Game Chris Rofe had his only blemish of the game with a Minot sac fly putting them back up 3-2.
Down to their final out, things were looking bleak for the Stingers until MinnWest Technology Campus Player of the Game Drey Dirksen came to the plate with the bases loaded.
Dirksen silenced the Hot Tots crowd, ripping a single up the middle to score two runs and give the Stingers a late lead to put his career RBI total as a Stinger at 101.
Rofe slammed the door on a Hot Tots rally in the bottom half of the inning to give the Stingers the win.
The Stingers picked up a series victory in Minot and will now rebrand to the Alexandria Beetles to open up their series against the St. Cloud Rox.
For more coverage of the Stingers, visit the West Central Tribune online at www.wctrib.com.
The 2023 season is presented by J.D. Kreps Financial Group, empowering investors with powerful financial advice.
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The Willmar Stingers are a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwoods League. The Northwoods League is the proven leader in the development of elite college baseball players. Now in its 30th season, the Northwoods League is the largest organized baseball league in the world with 24 teams, drawing significantly more fans, in a friendly ballpark experience, than any league of its kind. A valuable training ground for coaches, umpires, and front office staff, over 325 Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including three-time All-Star and 2016 Roberto Clemente Award winner Curtis Granderson, three-time Cy Young Award winner and World Series Champion Max Scherzer (NYM), two-time World Series Champions Ben Zobrist and Brandon Crawford (SFG) and World Series Champion Chris Sale (BOS). As well as 2019 Rookie of the Year and 2019/2021 Home Run Derby Champion Pete Alonso (NYM) and 2021 All-Star, MLB Gold Glove winner and 2019 Second Team All-MLB shortstop Marcus Semien (TEX). All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League website. League games are viewable live at watchnwl.com and on ESPN+. For more information, visit www.willmarstingers.com or download the new Northwoods League Mobile App on the Apple App Store or on Google Play and set the Stingers as your favorite team.
