Extra-Inning Battle Ends in Heartbreaking Fashion, Stingers Fall to Honkers 5-4
Published on June 24, 2023 under Northwoods League (Northwoods)
Willmar Stingers News Release
ROCHESTER, MN - In a 13-inning slugfest, the Rochester Honkers stole one from the Willmar Stingers with a 5-4 victory on Saturday.
Both teams canceled each other out in the second inning with Kyle Payne sending a solo shot over the left field wall and Drey Dirksen scoring on a wild pitch for the first two Stingers runs of the game.
The Honkers got those runs back right away with Kimo Fukofuka launching a two-run blast to put him in sole possession of the top spot on the the Northwoods League home run leaderboard with six.
Willmar regained the lead in the fifth inning off of a fielder's choice hit by Gabe Swansen.
MinnWest Technology Campus Player of the Game Mitch Gutknecht continued his dominant start to the summer with a six-inning gem where his lone blemish was that Fukofuka home run.
His performance kept the Stingers in the lead for a majority of the game but the Honkers broke the ice in the eighth as a bases-loaded walk brought in the tying run.
After that however, Hemponix Relief Pitcher of the Game Nolan Kemp was lights out for the Stingers not only to close that inning but to close the remainder of his four-inning appearance.
A majority of those innings would come in extra frames as neither side got past three runs until the tenth.
Luke Williams worked a pinch-hit single to give the lead back to the Stingers but down to their final out, the Honkers tied the game with a single from Ben North forcing more free baseball.
Both sides were held off the scoreboard for the next two innings until the Honkers walked it off in the thirteenth inning with a sac fly from North that would secure the series-opening victory for the home team.
The Stingers and Honkers will meet again tomorrow for the final game of the series.
For more coverage of the Stingers, visit the West Central Tribune online at www.wctrib.com.
The 2023 season is presented by J.D. Kreps Financial Group, empowering investors with powerful financial advice.
Northwoods League Stories from June 24, 2023
- Dock Spiders' Comeback Falls Short, Lose to Chinooks 8-6 - Fond du Lac Dock Spiders
- Border Cats Beat Loggers 8-3 After Second Weekend Rain Delay - La Crosse Loggers
- Rain Doesn't Stop Eau Claire from Picking up W - Eau Claire Express
- MoonDogs Chip Away at Rox - Mankato MoonDogs
- Extra-Inning Battle Ends in Heartbreaking Fashion, Stingers Fall to Honkers 5-4 - Willmar Stingers
- Offense Explodes Early, Mallards Tied for First in West - Madison Mallards
- Chinooks Get Contributions from Everyone to Win Second Straight - Lakeshore Chinooks
- Mallards Flock the Pit Spitters - Traverse City Pit Spitters
- Kingfish Defeat Rockers 2-1, Reel in Fourth Straight Victory - Kenosha Kingfish
- Kokomo Walks off Wausau, Wins 6-5 in Tenth - Wausau Woodchucks
- Rafters Shut Out In Game 1 At Battle Creek - Wisconsin Rapids Rafters
- Rox Batters Collect Eight Hits in Game One Against Mankato - Rox Return Home Versus MoonDogs Tomorrow - St. Cloud Rox
- Rockers Fall at Home to Kingfish Saturday Night - Green Bay Rockers
- Rockford Rivets Unable to Overcome Kokomo Jackrabbits in Low-Scoring Battle - Rockford Rivets
- Kingfish Top Battle Jacks to Win Series - Kenosha Kingfish
- Weather Update - Rochester Honkers
- Rockers Back at Home to Host Kenosha Kingfish - Green Bay Rockers
- Former Chinook, Grant Hartwig, Debuts with Mets - Lakeshore Chinooks
- Kingfish Beat Battle Jacks 8-6, Stave off Late Battle Jacks Rally to Win Series - Battle Creek Battle Jacks
- Dock Spiders Toppled by Rafters, Fall 3-1 - Fond du Lac Dock Spiders
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
