WILLMAR, MN.- The Willmar Stingers battled until the very end against the Rochester Honkers but fell in a 4-3 loss to end a six-game winning streak.
After Sam Malec started the game strong with three shutout innings, the Honkers were able to break the game open in the fourth as Ben North launched a solo homer for the first run of the game.
The Honkers added onto that total later in the inning as Ian Daugherty brought home three more with a home run of his own to make it a four-run inning for Rochester.
Willmar got a run back in the bottom half of the inning as after a double from Kevin Fitzer, it only took a fielder’s choice for the Stingers first run.
MinnWest Technology Campus Player of the Game Drey Dirksen made it a one-run game in the sixth with a two-run homer to keep the Stingers in the game.
Hemponix Relief Pitcher of the Game Ethan Stade helped keep the Honkers off the scoreboard with three and two thirds scoreless innings.
Despite the Stingers best efforts to comeback into the game, bad luck halted the attempt with double plays in each of the final three innings.
Even after a ninth-inning double play, the Stingers still had one last chance to tie the game.
After back-to-back walks, Stone Miyao hit a pop-up to left field which several Honker fielders struggled to track until Kimo Fukofuka made a game-ending diving catch.
With the loss, the Stingers fall a game behind the St. Cloud Rox in the Great Plains West and will battle the Honkers to close the series on Wednesday.
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.
##
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.
