WILLMAR, MN.- In a low scoring battle, it was the Willmar Stingers who came out on top with a 4-1 victory over the Rochester Honkers on Wednesday.
The Stingers got on the board in the first inning as they were able to capitalize on a Honkers error which was enough to bring in Andrew Sojka.
After that, both starters locked things down with Stingers’ Hunter Magnuson and Honkers’ Cole Seward keeping it a 1-0 game through the first five innings.
In the sixth, Magnuson gave up a leadoff double to Ben North who would come around to score to tie the game at one.
Hemponix Relief Pitcher of the Game Tom Sun made sure that was the only Honkers run to score the rest of the way as he didn’t allow a run in his four innings of relief.
With the game tied in the eighth, MinnWest Technology Campus Player of the Game Sean Rimmer came to the plate with two runners on and two outs.
Rimmer singled off the first pitch he saw to bring in both runners and make it a 3-1 Stingers lead.
A wild pitch brought in an insurance run for the Stingers which was more than enough for Sun to close the door in the ninth for the victory.
The Stingers were able to force the series split against the Honkers and will now travel to St. Cloud for a two-game series with the Rox.
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.
