{"id":16552,"date":"2023-07-18T00:08:29","date_gmt":"2023-07-18T00:08:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/northwoodsleague.com\/willmar-stingers\/?p=16552"},"modified":"2023-07-18T02:51:59","modified_gmt":"2023-07-18T02:51:59","slug":"willmar-opens-up-two-game-series-against-rochester","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/northwoodsleague.com\/willmar-stingers\/2023\/07\/18\/willmar-opens-up-two-game-series-against-rochester\/","title":{"rendered":"Willmar Opens Up Two Game Series Against Rochester"},"content":{"rendered":"

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

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

The Matchup: <\/b>The Willmar Stingers (34-12) will take on the Rochester Honkers (25-23) for a two game series in front of the home fans at Bill Taunton Stadium.<\/span><\/p>\n

Players To Watch: <\/b>Parker Stinson (Indiana State University) will be the player to watch for Willmar. Stinson was named MinnWest Technology Campus Player Of The Game on Saturday after a 2-for-3 performance which drove in four RBI.<\/span><\/p>\n

For Rochester, Kimo Fukofuka (San Jose State University) will be the player in the spotlight. Fukofuka is batting .267 and has driven in 28 RBI with 36 hits. 2022, was Fukofuka\u2019s first season at SJSU as he transferred from Canada College in Redwood City, California.<\/span><\/p>\n

Tonight\u2019s Pitchers: <\/b>Sam Malec (University of Minnesota) will make his first start for Willmar in game one after being primarily a long relief guy thus far for the Stingers. Malec has made three relief appearances and has posted a 2.89 ERA and has struck out nine hitters in 9.1 innings of work. Malec was named Hemponix Reliever of the game on July 10 after a shutdown performance against the Saint Cloud Rox.<\/span><\/p>\n

Cole Seward (Colorado Mesa University) will likely be on the hill for Rochester. Seward will make his third appearance. In 2023, Seward struck out ten batters and allowed just three total free passes. On the year, he posts a 0.75 ERA. Collegiately, Seward pitched in the NCAA Super Regional where he struck out a career high of four batters against Adams State his freshman season.<\/span><\/p>\n

Coaching Update: <\/b>Stingers fans will see a new face make trips to the mound as Josh Teichroew will be the new Willmar pitching coach as current pitching coach Michael Newstrom accepted a coaching job at Division I California State- Bakersfield of the Big West Conference. Teichroew stated \u201cHe is excited to be back, as he was the pitching coach for the 2021 Willmar Stingers season\u201d. Josh played at Mount Mercy College and just finished his first season as the head coach of the Lancers. Willmar will be a familiar place as he has previous experience on the staff and will be coaching one of his own in Starting Pitcher Chris Rofe (Sydney, Australia).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Last Meeting: <\/b>Willmar and Rochester last took the field at Mayo field where both teams have split the season series by scores of 5-4 and 13-7 in June. Game one came down to the wire as it went a total of 13 innings before the winning run was knocked in off the bat of Ben North (Creighton University) who was named Northwoods Player of the Night just three weeks ago. North will be another bat for Stingers fans to keep an eye on as he posts a .280 batting average at shortstop in 36 games this summer.<\/span><\/p>\n

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