THUNDER BAY, Ontario- After clinching the Great Plains West division the day prior, the Willmar Stingers traveled north for a matchup with the Thunder Bay Border Cats and kept on rolling.

It would take until the fourth inning for the first runs of the game but once the Stingers got hot, they wouldn’t let their foot off the gas.

Luke Williams would provide that fuel with a 2-RBI triple to get the Stingers on the scoreboard.

One batter later, Kevin Fitzer would drive in both Williams and himself with a two-run homer to complete a four-run inning.

The Border Cats got one of those runs back with a single but the Stingers more than made up for it in the next half inning.

Aidan Byrne would get the scoring started with a 2-RBI single and he would be brought home by Williams who hit a single of his own.

After Parker Stinson kept the rotation going with another RBI single, MinnWest Technology Campus Player of the Game Stone Miyao broke the game open with his 2-RBI single to complete a six-run fifth inning as the Stingers built a 10-1 lead.

Mitch Gutknecht pitched a strong six innings for the Stingers as he didn’t allow an earned run and struck out three batters.

Hemponix Relief Pitcher of the Game Sam Malec took over and kept the big lead for the Stingers alive as he only allowed one run through two innings.

Offensively, the Stingers would score multiple runs in each of the final three innings.

Miyao collected RBI’s in each of those innings to complete a 5-RBI night to complete a 21-2 Stingers victory.

The Stingers and Border Cats meet again tomorrow to continue a four-game 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.