{"id":16387,"date":"2023-06-28T13:25:50","date_gmt":"2023-06-28T13:25:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/northwoodsleague.com\/willmar-stingers\/?p=16387"},"modified":"2023-06-28T22:19:20","modified_gmt":"2023-06-28T22:19:20","slug":"stingers-wrap-up-four-game-home-stand-against-bismarck","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/northwoodsleague.com\/willmar-stingers\/2023\/06\/28\/stingers-wrap-up-four-game-home-stand-against-bismarck\/","title":{"rendered":"Stingers Wrap Up Four Game Home Stand Against Bismarck"},"content":{"rendered":"

Written by Dain Solberg<\/span><\/p>\n

Photo Courtesy of Dennis Benson<\/span><\/p>\n

The Matchup: <\/b>The Willmar Stingers (22-6) will welcome the Bismarck Larks (13-15) for a two game series at Bill Taunton Stadium on June 28 and June 29.<\/span><\/p>\n

Players To Watch: <\/b>For Willmar, the player to watch is infielder Jack Hines (Augustana University). Hines is batting .351 and has collected 13 hits and four RBI in 11 games. Hines went 2-for-4 in game one of the Mud Puppies series.<\/span><\/p>\n

For Bismarck, the player to watch is Brock Kleszcz (University of California- San Diego) who is leading the team with a .444 batting average. Kleszcz has tallied four hits and two runs in nine games thus far for the Larks.<\/span><\/p>\n

Probable Pitchers: <\/b>Willmar fans will see Michael Chevalier (Northern State University). In five appearances Chevalier (3-1) has a 1.93 ERA tallying 16 strikeouts and allowing six free passes.<\/span><\/p>\n

Bismarck fans will see Garrett Yawn (Long Island University). Yawn (1-1) has a 9.31 ERA along with eight strikeouts and eight free passes in 9.2 innings of work.<\/span><\/p>\n

Late Game Heroics: <\/b>The Willmar Stingers won the last two games against the Mud Puppies in walk off fashion by coming from behind in extra innings.<\/span><\/p>\n

Willmar vs Bismarck: <\/b>The Stingers have faced the Larks four times this season both at Bill Taunton Stadium and in Bismarck. Willmar has swept both series thus far in 2023.<\/span><\/p>\n

New Arm: <\/b>Willmar adds a new arm to the rotation in Sam Malec (University of Minnesota). Malec made seven appearances for the Golden Gophers, striking out 14 hitters and allowing ten free passes in 27.2 innings of work.<\/span><\/p>\n

Games To Clinch: <\/b>The Stingers are able to clinch the Great Plains West first half throughout this series (the magic number is one after sweeping the Mud Puppies)<\/span><\/p>\n

Keys to the Series:<\/b><\/p>\n