Northwoods Willmar Stingers

Bates, Flores Guide Stingers over Bullfrogs

Published on August 9, 2013 under Northwoods League (Northwoods)
Willmar Stingers News Release


WILLMAR, Minn. - The Stingers received another quality outing from their starting pitcher, the defense made a handful of excellent plays and the offense didn't waste many opportunities in a pivotal 6-2 win over the Green Bay Bullfrogs. Nary a loss could be afforded with the season winding down and Willmar trailing Duluth for the final playoff spot, making the well-rounded performance by the team even more impressive.

Nick Bates earned the start despite not knowing he would go until about an hour before the game. Starting pitching has often been shaky for the Stingers over the past few weeks, but Bates was rock solid. The right-hander out of St. Louis pitched 5.0 innings, allowing just four hits and two runs en route to his fourth win of the season. Bobby McCormack (Baylor) made his team-leading 24th appearance, pitching 2.1 innings and Bret Dahlson (Loyola Marymount) closed the show, recording his team-leading 13th save.

Although Marc Flores did not record an RBI, he finished 3-for-4 with a double and scored three runs, earning the CDI player of the game. Flores leads the Northwoods League with 61 RBI on the season and is just one shy of tying the single-season franchise record set by Michael Suchy in 2012.

The defense recorded three double plays on the night, two of which went a more conventional 4-6-3 while another put the crowd on its feet. With a runner at first and nobody out in the 2nd inning, Ryan Drobny of Green Bay hit a sinking line drive to right field with the runner at first breaking for second base. Logan Moon (Missouri Southern) charged in to make a sensational diving catch, leapt to his feet and threw to first base in time to record the 9-3 double play. In the first three innings, Moon recorded 6 putouts and one outfield assist over the span of nine retired batters.

Duluth survived a thriller with the Eau Claire Express to stay two games up in the playoff race with just three games remaining.

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Northwoods League Stories from August 9, 2013


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