WILLMAR, MN – The Stingers returned home on Saturday night and treated the fans to a 9-5 win over the Bismarck Larks.
In the first inning Andrew Sojka (CSUN) continued to do Andrew Sojka things, hitting his league-leading 21st home run of the season to make it 1-0.
With Willmar trailing 2-1 in the 4th, Brayden Hellum (Kirkwood CC) recorded his first hit as a Stinger, hitting a big fly of his own to retake the lead at 3-2.
Willmar starter Hunter Possehl (Florida Gulf Coast) settled in after giving up the two in the 2nd, and went on to pitch five innings, allowing just two hits and those two runs.
The Stingers led 4-3 going into the bottom of the 7th, and blew things open.
Five runs came into score in total, the big hit coming from Liam Bushey (Western Illinois) on a 2-out bases clearing 3 RBI double.
Hemponix Relief Pitcher of the Game Cameron Jensen (Southwest MN State) closed things out with a scoreless 9th to give Willmar their 8th win of the season over the Larks.
The same two teams will be back in action on Sunday with first pitch at 5:05 pm at Bill Taunton Stadium.
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.