WILLMAR, MN.- On the verge of a Great Plains West first half division title, the Willmar Stingers saw its lead disappear as they fell 7-6 against the Bismarck Larks.
After a pitchers duel dominated the early stages of the game, the Stingers broke the ice for the first run of the game with a fielder’s choice off a ball hit by Kevin Fitzer in the third inning.
The Larks got the run back in the next half inning with a fielder’s choice of their own.
Graysen Tarlow scored on a wild pitch later in the fourth as well to put the Stingers back up 2-1.
The Hemponix Relief Pitcher of the Game Kris Hokenson came on looking to keep the lead for the Stingers.
After making quick work of the Larks in the fifth, they struck back in the next inning as Jack Herring tied it back up with a double before an error from Kasten Furr allowed two more to come across and give Bismarck a 4-2 lead.
The MinnWest Technology Campus Player of the Game Scott Anderson had something to say about that lead however as he doubled in the next half inning to cut the Larks lead in half.
Even after Herring doubled to score another in the eighth to get the run back, Anderson came to the plate with the Stingers down one looking to follow a Drey Dirksen RBI double in the prior at-bat.
He connected on his pitch for his second double of the game with this one bringing in two to give the Stingers a late 6-5 lead.
With the Stingers just two outs away from clinching the division title however, Benjamin Rosengard gave the lead right back to the Larks with a two-run homer in the top of the ninth to give Bismarck a 7-6 lead they wouldn’t give up.
The Stingers and Larks will play the final game of their two-game series tomorrow as the Stingers look to bounce back in front of their home crowd.
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.
