WILLMAR, MN – On a perfect Sunday night at Bill Taunton Stadium, the Stingers punched their ticket to the playoffs, with a win over Waterloo 15-1, making them Great Plains West First Half Champions.

The Stingers got a fantastic start on the mound from the local kid Ian Koosman (Paradise Valley CC), going 6+ innings, allowing just one run and punching out eight.

The offense was also impeccable, wasting no time getting on the board, as Jessada Brown (UCSB) blasted his second home run in a Stinger uniform in the 1st to make it 1-0.

With it still 1-0 in the 3rd, Willmar added 3 more, with 2 RBIs off the bat of Max Buettenback (Nebraska) and the other from Rhett Stokes (Nebraska),

The game was really busted open though in the 6th, with the score 4-1, Willmar put up a 5 spot, highlighted by a Harrison Taubert (Evansville) bases clearing double.

They then added more in the 7th with 6 runs, again a bases clearing double being the big hit, this time off the bat of Buettenback to cap off his 4 hit night with 6 RBIs.

Aiden Hansen (Minnesota State-Mankato) closed the game out throwing three scoreless, earning him Hemponix Relief Pitcher of the Game.

For more coverage of the Stingers, visit the West Central Tribune online at www.wctrib.com. The 2024 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. Entering its’ 31st season, the Northwoods League is the largest organized baseball league in the world with 26 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 350 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 (TEX), two-time World Series Champions Ben Zobrist and Brandon Crawford (STL) and World Series Champion Chris Sale (ATL). As well as 2019 Rookie of the Year and 2019/2021 Home Run Derby Champion Pete Alonso (NYM) and 2023 World Series Champion, 2021 and 2023 All-Star, MLB Gold Glove winner and two-time All-MLB first team 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.