Bad Breaks Abound, Stingers Fall to Huskies
Published on June 27, 2013 under Northwoods League (Northwoods)
Willmar Stingers News Release
DULUTH, Minn. - Sometimes things simply don't go your way. Such was the case for the Stingers (19-10) against the Duluth Huskies in a 3-2 loss that offered no shortage of tough breaks for the boys in black and yellow. Twice in the game, line drives directed squarely at Husky defenders opened the door for rally-killing double plays. Despite the hard luck, Michael Murray (Florida Gulf Coast) demonstrated that on such occasions you have to fight through with sheer determination.
The lanky right-hander pitched 6.1 innings, giving up just one run. In that span, he worked out of several jams, but none more difficult than the one he encountered in the top of the sixth. It began with an infield single by Keith Curcio. Murray covered first n a ground ball but was narrowly beat out by the speedy center fielder. Then, Michael Suiter tapped a ball up the first base line that Murray fielded, but once again, the throw was not in time.
"I had to move on," said Murray. "It's a part of baseball, dwell on the past and you're going to continue to do bad."
And move on he did. With runners at first and third and his team trailing 1-0, the embattled pitcher dug deep and found the resolve necessary to escape the inning following a pop out, strikeout and ground out.
"When I went out there, I did not want him to think about how those two guys got on," said Manager Matt Hollod. Instead, Hollod's meeting consisted of strategy with the infielders and directing Murray's focus to the next batter. It worked.
"They had all the momentum in the world. We got out of it and suddenly we have all the momentum," said Hollod.
With that momentum, despite the slow start, the Stingers offense rebounded, loading the bases in the sixth and seventh innings. In the sixth, Nick Halamandaris (Cal-Berkley) ripped a line drive caught by Trey Vavra who then stepped on first for the unassisted double play to end the threat. In the seventh, A Marc Flores (Hawaii) walk brought around the go-ahead run, giving the Stingers and Murray a hard-earned lead. But the Huskies fought back to win the game on a pair of fielding errors in the ninth. The win was the first in three tries for the Huskies (16-13).
Despite not factoring into the decision, Murray, CDI player of the game lowered his season ERA from 7.29 to 5.57 in his first start since June 15. The loss puts the Stingers a half game behind the Waterloo Bucks in the NWL North Division, with just six games remaining in the first half. At the conclusion of the first half on July 3rd, the team with the best record in the division will be awarded a playoff bid for later in the summer.
The Stingers are in Duluth for another game tomorrow and will turn to Abe Bobb (3-0) to put them back to their winning ways.
Northwoods League Stories from June 27, 2013
- Blue Anchors Sweep Doubleheader with Honkers - Rochester Honkers
- Express Silence Rafters Attack, Take First Game of Series, 7-5 - Wisconsin Rapids Rafters
- Mallards Use Ten-Run Seventh to Defeat Woodchucks 13-6 - Wausau Woodchucks
- Mallards Pull Within Half Game of South Division Lead After 13-6 Win - Madison Mallards
- Bad Breaks Abound, Stingers Fall to Huskies - Willmar Stingers
- Blue Anchors Edge Honkers in Game One - Rochester Honkers
- Former Mankato MoonDog Sean Halton Called up by Brewers - Northwoods
- Mallards Start Final Series in Six-Game Home Stand - Madison Mallards
- Former Battle Creek Bomber Catcher Tony Sanchez Called up by Pirates - Battle Creek Battle Jacks
- Blue Anchors Fall to Stingers 5-2 - Alexandria Blue Anchors
- Rox Sweep Rochester Honkers in Extra Innings, 8-7 - St. Cloud Rox
- Woodchucks' stellar performance from bullpen leads to victory over Loggers 3-1 - Wausau Woodchucks
- Comeback Falls Short Wednesday; 9-6 to Eau Claire - Lakeshore Chinooks
- Stingers Defense Keys Victory, Atop Division Again - Willmar Stingers
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