Bucks Stung, Stingers Done
August 11, 2013 - Northwoods League (Northwoods)
Willmar Stingers News Release
WATERLOO, Iowa - With the season on the line, the Willmar Stingers played with the urgency that has kept them in the midst of the playoff hunt down the stretch. The Stingers received another quality pitching performance from their starter, Andrew Woeck, Michael Suchy filled in with valor at third base and the team play cohesively to register its sixth win in seven days. However, despite the 4-3 win over the all-time-great Waterloo Bucks, the Stingers were eliminated from playoff contention as the Duluth Huskies were also winners on the night.
The Bucks, who had established a new Northwoods League record for wins in a season the night before, were first to stike, leading with two runs in the 2nd inning until the Stingers responded with three runs in the 4th. After JT Miller had rolled through the Stingers lineup through the first three frames, Suchy (Florida Gulf Coast) notched his 2nd triple of the season to lead off the inning, scoring two batters later on an RBI ground out by college teammate Zack Tillery. The Stingers, though, weren't finished as Marc Flores (Hawaii) singled with two outs, then stole second base and scored on a base hit by a suddenly red-hot Colton Bottomley (Florida Gulf Coast). A double by Nick Halamandaris (California) scored Bottomley, giving the Stingers a lead they wouldn't relinquish for the remainder of the game. Suchy, the CDI player of the game, finished with two runs scored, a triple and a double and also began an impressive 5-4-3 double play despite his limited time at the hot corner this season.
Woeck (NC State) made his first start since twirling a one-hitter against the Alexandria Blue Anchors sox days earlier and though he didn't quite have the same dynamic on the mound, worked effectively against a lineup filled with batters who never make easy outs. The Bucks boasted seven batters with averages higher than .300 coming into the contest and also led the league by a wide margin with 137 stolen bases as a team. Woeck walked four batters in the first two innings but worked out of jams and relied on solid glovework behind him as he finished the game pitching 5.2 innings, earning his 4th win of the season.
Bret Dahlson (Loyola Marymount) pitched the final 1.2 innings to register his 14th save of the season as the Stingers are still in a position to match last year's franchise record for single-season wins at 41.
Northwoods League Stories from August 11, 2013
- Blue Anchors Top Thunder Bay in Extras to End Season - Alexandria Blue Anchors
- Rox End Season with 5-2 Victory over Mankato - St. Cloud Rox
- Express Score Eight Straight to Defeat Bullfrogs - Green Bay Rockers
- Chinooks Hook Playoff Spot - Lakeshore Chinooks
- Lakeshore to Play Mallards in Playoffs After 17-3 Blowout Win - Madison Mallards
- Stroik's Gem Not Enough as Rafters Drop Season Finale, 4-2 - Wisconsin Rapids Rafters
- Chucks Drop Season Finale 13-2 to Loggers - Wausau Woodchucks
- NWL Names Postseason All-Star Team; Bucks Sweep Coaching Awards - Waterloo Bucks
- Neitzel Wins Co-Play-By-Play Announcer of the Year - Madison Mallards
- Huskies Edge Honkers in Season Finale - Rochester Honkers
- Trio of Stingers Named All-Stars, Flores Earns MVP - Willmar Stingers
- Rafters Claim Three on Northwoods League Postseason Team, Rewrite Record Book - Wisconsin Rapids Rafters
- Paul and Martin Named to NWL Postseason All-Star Team - St. Cloud Rox
- Mallards to Play Final Regular Season Game Today - Madison Mallards
- Northwoods League Announces 2013 Post Season All-Stars - Northwoods
- Bucks Stung, Stingers Done - Willmar Stingers
- Blue Anchors Fall to Border Cats 18-9 - Alexandria Blue Anchors
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