Waterloo, Iowa – The Willmar Stingers (7-10) lost 11-10 in ten innings to the Waterloo Bucks (7-9) at Riverfront Stadium. The result split the two game series that had a total of 43 hits recorded and 48 runs scored between the two teams.
In the opening inning Max Buettenback put the Stingers ahead 2-0 with a two-run homerun to rightfield after Cru Huenfeld led off the contest with a walk. It was foreshadowing for what was to come later from Buettenback.
Later in the 1st, Tyler Stull drove in Kyle Panganiban from second base to make the score 3-0 Stingers. It was Stull’s first RBI with the ball club this season.
The host Bucks responded with three runs of their own in the bottom half of the inning. After a run was walked in, Mycah Jordan drove in the next two with an RBI single to plate Caleb Parker and Nico Newhan.
In the bottom of the third, Bucks first basemen Mitchell Iliff brought in Newhan to move Waterloo ahead 4-3. Stingers starter, Taggert Cameron went three innings, allowing three hits, four earned runs, four walks, and picked up three strikeouts.
Holtt Williams snagged an RBI in the 4th to tie the game, and the Stinger offense retook the lead in the 5th behind Buettenback’s second homerun of the game. The Nebraska Cornhusker connected for solo shot this time and Willmar plated another run in the inning after a Stull triple. Bucks starter, Brody Zielinksi’s final line was five innings, nine hits, six earned runs, and four punchouts.
In the sixth, a Williams sac-fly brought in Cooper Wood and a Bucks fielding error eventually led to another Stingers run to move the visiting squad in front 8-4.
The Bucks got within one run with a Colin Coonradt three-run shot to center field. The first basemen from Johnson County Community College picked a big time for his first long ball of the summer.
Following the seventh-inning stretch, Waterloo evened the score at 8 after Colin Brightwell picked up an RBI following a Fielder’s Choice to bring in Jordan.
Buettenback would connect for his third homer of the ball game in the 8th to move Wilmar ahead 9-8. He is the first Northwoods League player to hit three home runs in a single game this season. He earned Les Schwab Tires Player of the Night for the second game in a row.
The Bucks would extend the game in the 9th as Iliff played long ball to tie the game at nine apiece.
In the extra frame, Kai Gonzaga worked a bases loaded walk to bring in Nate Stiveson who started the inning at second base. In the bottom half of the 10th, the Bucks tied it from Caleb Parker reaching on a Fielder’s Choice to bring home Josh Kaplan. A wild pitch advanced Parker to second and Nico Newhan proved to be the hero with a walk-off double cap off the night.
The winning pitcher was Waterloo’s Sam Skarich who pitched in the ninth and tenth innings. The loss was charged to Matthew MacGregor.
The Stingers will head travel to St. Cloud tomorrow for the start of four straight games against the Rox. The game will begin at 7:05 PM at Joe Faber Field.
Visit willmarstingers.com or call 320-222-2010 to reserve your seats today. The 2026 season is presented by J.D. Kreps Financial Group, empowering investors with powerful financial advice.
About the Willmar Stingers:
The Willmar Stingers are a member of the Northwoods League, the premier summer collegiate baseball league in North America. The Stingers provide affordable, family-friendly entertainment while showcasing the top college baseball talent from across the country.
For more information about the Willmar Stingers, visit willmarstingers.com or contact the front office (320)222-2010 or info@willmarstingers.com
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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 entering its’ 33rd season, the Northwoods League is the largest organized baseball league in history 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, nearly 2400 NWL alums have been drafted and over 415 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 two-time World Series Champion Max Scherzer (TOR), two-time World Series Champions Ben Zobrist and Brandon Crawford and World Series Champion and Cy Young Award winner Chris Sale (ATL). As well as 2019 Rookie of the Year and 2019/2021 Home Run Derby Champion Pete Alonso (BAL) and 2023 World Series Champion, MLB All-Star, MLB Gold Glove, two-time Silver Slugger winner and two-time All-MLB first team shortstop Marcus Semien (NYM). League games are viewable live on FloSports.tv.