ROCHESTER, MN.- After a heartbreaking extra-innings loss to open the series, the Willmar Stingers bounced back with a 13-7 victory over the Rochester Honkers on Sunday.
Both teams jumped out of the gates early as a wild pitch scored a run for the Stingers and a sac fly got that run right back for the Honkers.
It was in the third inning where the Stingers offense exploded on the scene with four runs scored.
MinnWest Technology Campus Player of the Game Parker Stinson accounted for one of those runs with his first hit as a Stinger.
Scott Anderson brought him around to score later that inning as his 2-RBI single would close out the half inning offensively.
Stinson struck again in the fourth with a 2-RBI single of his own to play a big part in a three-run inning.
The Honkers did get two of those runs back in the bottom half of an inning which also saw Kyle Payne leave the game with an injury after a collision with Stinson in the outfield.
Willmar’s offense would continue to strike, adding on one more run in the fifth thanks to a Jack Hines double.
Hemponix Relief Pitcher of the Game Gino Cozzi held the Honkers scoreless in his first two innings of relief after taking over for starter Jalen Vorpahl.
In the seventh, the Stingers would explode for another four-run inning with it all being capped off by Stinson’s fourth RBI of the game via a sac fly.
Cozzi allowed his lone blemish of the game in the bottom half with a Ben North double which made the score 13-4.
Rochester would get its last three runs in the eighth and were held scoreless in the ninth by Andrew Baumgart to secure the win for the Stingers.
The Stingers will now return home for a four-game homestand starting against the Minnesota Mud Puppies.
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.
