{"id":20899,"date":"2026-06-08T22:24:29","date_gmt":"2026-06-09T03:24:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/northwoodsleague.com\/willmar-stingers\/?p=20899"},"modified":"2026-06-08T22:28:12","modified_gmt":"2026-06-09T03:28:12","slug":"stingers-strike-late-to-win-third-straight","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/northwoodsleague.com\/willmar-stingers\/2026\/06\/08\/stingers-strike-late-to-win-third-straight\/","title":{"rendered":"Stingers Strike Late to Win Third Straight"},"content":{"rendered":"

Willmar, Minn.<\/strong>\u00a0<\/b>\u2013 The Willmar Stingers (6-8) got hot on offense in the final innings Monday night, taking their series opener 11-5 over the Eau Claire Express (6-9).<\/p>\n

The visitors struck first with two runs in the top of the second inning. Anthony Martinez roped a double up the middle to put the first run of the game on the board and scored one batter later on a single from Tommy Hanger.<\/p>\n

Willmar responded with three unanswered runs, scoring one each in the second, third and fourth innings. That included an opposite field home run by Cru Huenfeld that gave him his second longball of the season and tied the game up, 2-2.<\/p>\n

James Rule recorded three innings in his first start of the season for the Stingers, allowing three hits with two earned runs and five strikeouts.<\/p>\n

The Express battled back to retake the lead with a home run of their own in the top of the fifth. Matthew Maulik reached base with one out before a Hollon Brock homer two batters later put Eau Claire back ahead, 4-3.<\/p>\n

Eli Kokenge held the visitors’ bats quiet after entering to start the top of the sixth. He recorded three scoreless innings with just one hit and one walk allowed while fanning two batters.<\/p>\n

Willmar’s offense took advantage, striking for four runs in the bottom of the seventh and again in the eighth inning.<\/p>\n

The Stingers retook the lead in the seventh after an errant throw home before Merrick Rapoza extended the lead to 8-4 with a two-run single. Enrico Veach helped carry the offensive momentum over to the next inning, lifting a sacrifice fly to center field and plating Huenfeld.<\/p>\n

Rapoza then came up in the clutch again, adding another RBI to his tally with a double to left. He was named the Les Schwab Tires Player of the Game after going 3-for-4 with three runs batted in.<\/p>\n

Eau Claire added one run in the top of the ninth, but Parker Grant sealed the 11-5 victory in his Willmar debut.<\/p>\n

The Stingers will go for the series sweep Tuesday, when they face the Express on Kandiyohi Power Cooperative Night. First pitch is set for 6:35 p.m.<\/p>\n

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.<\/span><\/p>\n

About the Willmar Stingers:
\nThe 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.<\/p>\n

For more information about the Willmar Stingers, visit willmarstingers.com or contact the front office (320)222-2010 or info@willmarstingers.com<\/p>\n

##<\/p>\n

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\u2019 33rd<\/sup>\u00a0season, 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.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Willmar, Minn.\u00a0\u2013 The Willmar Stingers (6-8) got hot on offense in the final innings Monday night, taking their series opener […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":12,"featured_media":20900,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[31,33,53],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-20899","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-all-categories","category-team-news","category-update-ticker-all-categories"],"yoast_head":"\nStingers Strike Late to Win Third Straight - Willmar Stingers<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" 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