Willmar, Minn. — The Willmar Stingers (17-20) walked it off on a Max Buettenback single in the bottom of the ninth against the Bismarck Larks (16-19) to win 9-8 at Bill Taunton Stadium. The home Stingers trailed 7-0 in the first inning and erased the deficit to complete the unbelievable comeback.
The Larks started fast in the top of the first by having the first seven batters reach base safely. Luke Lavin started the scoring with a two-run single to drive home Carmelo Rivera and Dylan Larkins to make it 2-0 Bismarck. Five more runs would cross the plate in the inning with four of them scoring off wild pitches that brought runners in from third base.
Stingers starter Jamie Vicens, completed two-thirds of an inning, allowing four hits, seven earned runs, three walks, and struckout two. Eli Kokenge entered the game in relief.
The Willmar offense scored its first runs of the game in the fourth from a David Estrada two-run home run to make the score 7-2. This was Estrada’s first long-ball of the season. Larks starter, Tate Alexander finished four innings, allowing three hits, two earned runs, and send down two on strikes. He was replaced by Gabriel Jacobs.
Both squads would a trade one run in the fifth and it was 8-3 Larks heading into the sixth. It was in this frame when Brandon Mikos replaced Kokenge who allowed one run on three hits in four and one-third innings of work.
The bottom of the sixth saw the Stingers post four runs on the board. Jayton Greer, Kobe Eikmeier, and Kai Gonzaga all picked up hits in the inning and scored. Luke Devine would reach base on a walk and later score on a wild pitch to cut the Bismarck lead to 8-7.
Zane Baltz entered in the middle of the sixth in relief of Jacobs and was still in the game as the Stingers came to bat in the ninth. Greer, Aikmeier and Devine all reached to load the bases with two outs. In stepped Max Buettenback, who nearly gave the Stingers a go-ahead home run in the seventh with a deep drive to the warning track in his prior at-bat.
Baltz would fall behind 2-0 in the count and have to leave due to injury. Joey Duprey stepped on the mound in relief. Buettenback saw one strike and on the next pitch he sent a shot back up the middle to bring in pinch-runner Matthew Bernath from third and Eikmeier from second. The comeback was complete and the Stingers won 9-8 in walk-off fashion for the first time in 2026.
Buettenback was named the Les Schwab Tires Player of the Game for the clutch base knock. The win went to Mikos who threw four scoreless innings and the loss was charged to Baltz.
The series finale for these two ball clubs will be tomorrow night with first pitch scheduled for 6:35 p.m. It will Community Night presented by Hanson Communications at Bill Taunton Stadium.
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.