St. Cloud, Minn. – The Willmar Stingers’ 2026 season came to a close Tuesday night as they fell 10-9 to the St. Cloud Rox at Joe Faber Field.
The Rox (44-28) seized an early lead with three runs in the opening inning. Brett White plated two on a double to left field before Jackson Legg brought in White later in the frame on a sacrifice fly.
Starting pitcher Ryan Dalager was pulled after the first inning. He allowed three runs on four hits and one walk, also fanning one batter.
Willmar (38-35) struck back with four runs across the next two innings.
Keaton Cottam delivered a two-run double in the top of the second, cutting the deficit to one. Kai Gonzaga scored to tie the game up the next inning when Merrick Rapoza was hit by a pitch, then a productive groundout by Jehee Lee made it 4-3.
St. Cloud knotted the score again in the fourth inning on a leadoff home run to right field by Jackson Legg. The hosts followed that up with a trio of runs in the bottom of the fifth to retake the lead.
Colton Rother knocked a double to right field, plating two, and came across himself two batters later on a double by Legg to go up 7-4.
The Stingers got back a run the next frame as Lee led off with a double and scored on a groundout by Cottam.
But the Rox responded with two more in the bottom of the inning on a walk by Brett Griffiths that allowed Aidan Mouton to touch home and a single by White the next at-bat, 9-5.
Willmar continued the back-and-forth action with a quartet of runs in the top of the seventh.
David Estrada plated Paris Pridgen on a line drive single into center field, then Rapoza brought around another pair of runners on a double to right.
Rapoza knotted the score back up when he crossed on a groundout by Matthew Bernath, 9-9.
St. Cloud had the final response, though, and walked the game off in the bottom of the ninth inning to take the series win.
Kaden Amundson knocked a leadoff single down the right field line and advanced to third on a throwing error before scoring on an Aidan Mouton sacrifice fly, bringing an instant classic to an end.
Merrick Rapoza was named the season’s final Les Schwab Tires Player of the Game after recording three RBI during a 1-for-4 performance that featured a key double. The second year Stinger went 4-for-11 with five runs batted in over three games this postseason.
Freddy Smith closes his fourth year in Willmar with a 180-95 mark in the regular season, and his .655 winning percentage remains a Northwoods League record.
The Stingers’ second half Great Plains west championship gave the team a fifth division title and fourth playoffs appearance in the last five seasons.
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.