WILLMAR, MN.- With one last chance to clinch the Great Plains West first half in front of their home fans, the Willmar Stingers got the job done with a 13-1 victory against the Bismarck Larks.

The Stingers wasted no time in getting their offense rolling as Aidan Byrne drove in the first two runs with a single in the top of the first and Luke Williams brought him home with a single of his own to give the Stingers a 3-0 lead.

After the Larks drove home a run with a single of their own in the fourth, MinnWest Technology Campus Player of the Game Drey Dirksen got his breakout night started with an RBI double to cap off a two-run fourth inning.

Dirksen would be the catalyst for another two-run inning as he blasted his first home run at Bill Taunton Stadium this summer to give the Stingers a 7-1 lead.

Looking for insurance in the eighth inning, the Stingers would get more than enough as the first nine Willmar batters reached base with six runs coming across.

Dirksen drove home three of them with one swing of the bat for his second home run of the night as he would finish with 6-RBI.

Hemponix Relief Pitcher of the Game Nolan Kemp completed the three-inning save to punch the Stingers ticket into the playoffs.

The Stingers will close out their first half across the border against the Thunder Bay Border Cats.

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.