WILLMAR, MN.- In their first game at Bill Taunton Stadium since clinching the Great Plains West first half, the Willmar Stingers failed to keep that success going against another playoff bound team in the Eau Claire Express on Thursday.
The Express wasted no time in getting on the scoreboard as after a run came to cross on a Temo Becerra single, Camden Ross would homer in his second straight start to bring three more home.
MinnWest Technology Campus Player of the Game Sean Rimmer would go right to work in cutting into the deficit as he ripped an RBI double to bring home Kevin Fitzer to make it 4-1 Express.
Graysen Tarlow would then cut the deficit even further with an RBI single in the third.
Just as it looked like the Stingers were working to get themselves back into the game, the Express shut things down fast.
With one run already crossed for Eau Claire in the fourth, Reed Latimer doubled to clear the bases to complete the second four-run inning for the Express.
The Stingers would get half of those runs back in the bottom half of the frame as Jack Hines homered to score two for his first big fly of the summer.
Eau Claire would keep its high powered offense going the next half inning with two more runs bringing the lead up to 10-4.
Rimmer powered a solo home run in the sixth for a team-leading fifth on the summer which would turn out to be the last run of the day for the home team.
The Express would tack on five more runs in the next two innings as even after Hemponix Relief Pitcher of the Game Sam Malec shut the streak down in the ninth, the damage was already done.
Willmar will look for a bounce back victory against the Express tomorrow to close out the two-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.
