THUNDER BAY, Ontario- The Willmar Stingers have played in several close games as of late and their 3-2 victory against the Thunder Bay Border Cats on Monday was no exception.
Each team was held off the scoreboard through the first five innings of the game as Stingers starter Nate Zyzda had one of his best starts of the season.
Zyzda threw five shutout innings while only allowing three hits, picking up three strikeouts in the process.
The Stingers were able to break through in the sixth with a pair of RBI singles from Drey Dirksen and Sean Rimmer.
That lead didn’t last too long as the Border Cats matched that run total in the seventh, starting with an RBI double from Zane Skansi and he was promptly brought in with a Travis Chestnut RBI single.
Both sides would remain deadlocked until a second-straight day of extra innings.
Down to their final out in the top half of the tenth, MinnWest Technology Campus Player of the Game Luke Williams drove in the go-ahead run with a single.
Hemponix Relief Pitcher of the Game Ben Irsfeld would complete his second inning of work to secure the win for the Stingers and close a historic first half of play.
The win improves the Stingers first half record to 26-8 and will return to Bill Taunton Stadium on Thursday to host the Eau Claire Express and open the second half of Northwoods League play.
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.
