{"id":16464,"date":"2023-07-08T15:54:45","date_gmt":"2023-07-08T15:54:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/northwoodsleague.com\/willmar-stingers\/?p=16464"},"modified":"2023-07-08T15:54:59","modified_gmt":"2023-07-08T15:54:59","slug":"stingers-travel-south-to-take-on-moondogs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/northwoodsleague.com\/willmar-stingers\/2023\/07\/08\/stingers-travel-south-to-take-on-moondogs\/","title":{"rendered":"Stingers Travel South To Take On Moondogs"},"content":{"rendered":"

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

Photo Courtesy of Dennis Benson\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The Matchup: <\/b>The Willmar Stingers (26-10) will take on the Mankato Moondogs (20-17) for a two game series this weekend at ISG field on the campus of Bethany Lutheran College.<\/span><\/p>\n

New Faces to Beehive: <\/b>Fans will see eight new faces in Willmar for the second half of the season. These newcomers include Aiden Hansen (Minnesota State- Mankato), Andrew Sojka (California State University Northridge), Luke Schafer (Indiana University Southeast), Ethan Stade (Minnesota State- Mankato), Aaron Ragat (El Camino College), Tom Sun (Augustana University), Hunter Magnuson (Valley City State University), and Jonathan Zayas (Northwest Nazarene University)<\/span><\/p>\n

Players to Watch:\u00a0 <\/b>Stone Miyao (University of Hawaii) will be the player to watch in this weekend\u2019s series. Miyao was named the MinnWest Technology player of the game in game two of the Eau Claire Series. Miyao is currently posting a .317 batting average and has 18 RBI in 26 games this season.<\/span><\/p>\n

Kai Roberts (University of Utah) will be the slugger for Mankato fans to keep an eye on. Roberts has a .362 batting average and 23 hits in 18 games. This will be Roberts second season in the Northwoods League with the Moondogs. In 2022, was part of the Major League Dreams Showcase.<\/span><\/p>\n

Tonight\u2019s Starting Pitchers:<\/b><\/p>\n

Chris Rofe (Mount Marty College) will make his first start in the Northwoods League this season. Rofe has primarily been a bullpen arm for the Stingers. Rofe (3-0)\u00a0 has 24 strikeouts in nine relief appearances and posts a 1.04 ERA.<\/span><\/p>\n

Derrick Smith (North Carolina State University) will be on the bump for the Moondogs. Smith (4-0) pitched in the last meeting between these Great Plains Division foes. Smith took part in a 12-3 victory over Rochester where he allowed two earned runs in five innings of work. This season Smith has an ERA of under three (2.74).<\/span><\/p>\n

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