WILLMAR, MN – In the return from the All-Star break, the Stingers dropped the series opener to the Mankato MoonDogs, 6-5.

Willmar got on the board in the first, going up 1-0.

Mankato then answered with three straight, one in the 2nd and two in the 3rd,making it 3-1.

The Stingers answered right back, with two runs in the bottom of the 3rd, one on a Dariel Osoria (Kansas) sac fly, and the other on a Landen Lozier (Michigan State) RBI single, tying it up at 3.

From there, the MoonDogs dominated the middle innings, going into the 9th up 6-3.

A bright spot in those middle innings though was Hemponix Relief Pitcher of the Game Aidan Gonzalez (San Diego), who pitched 5 innings and struck out 7 while allowing just one hit.

Willmar mounted a rally in the 9th, scoring two runs on a Liam Bushey (Western Illinois) single, but the threat ended there.

The same two teams meet up again on Friday night at Bill Taunton Stadium, with first pitch again at 6:35 pm.

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.