Extra-inning battle ends in heartbreaking fashion, Stingers fall to Honkers 5-4

Both teams canceled each other out in the second inning with Kyle Payne sending a solo shot over the left field wall and Drey Dirksen scoring on a wild pitch for the first two Stingers runs of the game.

The Honkers got those runs back right away with Kimo Fukofuka launching a two-run blast to put him in sole possession of the top spot on the the Northwoods League home run leaderboard with six.

Willmar regained the lead in the fifth inning off of a fielder’s choice hit by Gabe Swansen.

MinnWest Technology Campus Player of the Game Mitch Gutknecht continued his dominant start to the summer with a six inning gem where his lone blemish was that Fukofuka home run.

His performance kept the Stingers in the lead for a majority of the game but the Honkers broke the ice in the eighth as a bases-loaded walk brought in the tying run.

After that however, Hemponix Relief Pitcher of the Game Nolan Kemp was lights out for the Stingers not only to close that inning but to close the remainder of his four-inning appearance.

A majority of those innings would come in extra frames as neither side got past three runs until the tenth.

Luke Williams worked a pinch-hit single to give the lead back to the Stingers but down to their final out, the Honkers tied the game with a single from Ben North forcing more free baseball.

Both sides were held off the scoreboard for the next two innings until the Honkers walked it off in the thirteenth inning with a sac fly from North that would secure the series-opening victory for the home team.

The Stingers and Honkers will meet again tomorrow for the final game of the series.

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.