Final Push: Late Comeback Helps Stingers Finish First Half with Win
July 1, 2015 - Northwoods League (Northwoods)
Willmar Stingers News Release
Justin Thaxton of the Willmar Stingers
(Willmar Stingers)
Duluth, Minn. - Until the final out is recorded, don't count the Stingers out.
For the fourth time in the last six games, Willmar came back from a deficit and closed out the first half with yet another win in a 5-4 triumph over Duluth Tuesday night at Wade Stadium.
In their most impressive come-from-behind victory so far this season, the Stingers (23-11) trailed by four runs going to the top half of the ninth inning. But Willmar sent 10 batters to the plate in the ninth, scoring five times to take the lead and hang on for the win over the Huskies.
The big blow in the inning came from Justin Thaxton. After the Stingers scored twice on a single by Kyle Gilbert, Tyler Leffler reached on a single to put runners on first and second. Eddie Estrada grounded into a fielder's choice to move Gilbert to third and put runners on the corners, which is when Thaxton came to the plate. On a 1-1 pitch, Thaxton drilled a home run to right-center field to put the Stingers up 5-4.
Up until that ninth inning, the Huskies (20-16) had held the Stingers offense at bay, taking the shutout into the final frame. Willmar had just four hits through the first eight innings and only twice had runners in scoring position.
But that all changed in the ninth inning. Paul Funk started the rally when he reached on a throwing error by Huskies' shortstop Nick Valaika. Then Reagan Fowler doubled down the left field line for his third two bagger in his first two games. That's when Gilbert cut the lead in half to make it 4-2 and get the Stingers right back into it.
Will Lydon started for the Stingers, and although he allowed a season-high four runs, he still managed to remain undefeated with the late comeback that gave him a no-decision. Colton Boucher picked up the win in two innings of scoreless relief, and Brady Anderson worked a scoreless ninth to lock down his eighth straight save.
The Stingers return to the Bill Taunton Stadium Wednesday to start a two-game series with the Eau Claire Express.
The 2015 Stingers season is presented by Marcus Construction. For more coverage of the Stingers visit the West Central Tribune online at www.wctrib.com.
CDI Player of the Game
Tonight's Center for Diagnostic Imaging player of the game was Justin Thaxton. CDI is your local medical imaging provider. It's your choice where you go for medical imaging, for MRI, CT, mammograms and pain injections, choose CDI. Visit online at myCDI.com/CentralMN.
Justin Thaxton - INF
Pacific
2-4 at Duluth
Home Run, 3 RBIs
Images from this story
 Justin Thaxton of the Willmar Stingers |
Northwoods League Stories from July 1, 2015
- Mallards Edged by Growlers in Slugfest - Madison Mallards
- Waterloo Falls in Second-Half Opener - Waterloo Bucks
- King Kehner: Southpaw's Superb Start Leads Stingers over Express - Willmar Stingers
- Wisconsin Rapids Blanked in Pitchers' Duel - Wisconsin Rapids Rafters
- Chinooks Shut Out By Woodchucks - Lakeshore Chinooks
- Pop Shuts Down Bucks as Rox Win 6-2 - St. Cloud Rox
- Bullfrogs Post One of Best First Half Showings in Franchise History - Green Bay Rockers
- Woodchucks Start Second Half on the Road - Wausau Woodchucks
- Bullfrogs Look to Add on to Eight-Game Winning Streak - Green Bay Rockers
- Kingfish Clinch Playoff Berth - Kenosha Kingfish
- Rafters Start Second Half against Kingfish - Wisconsin Rapids Rafters
- Baseball Cap Giveaway Tonight - Willmar Stingers
- Growlers to Play July 3-6 Games at Homer Stryker Field - Kalamazoo Growlers
- Mallards Host Growlers in Second-Half Opener - Madison Mallards
- Rox Falter in First Half Finale - St. Cloud Rox
- Bucks Split with Honkers to Close First Half - Waterloo Bucks
- Another Double-Dip Plays in Bullfrogs Favor; Win 4-0 and 6-5 - Green Bay Rockers
- Final Push: Late Comeback Helps Stingers Finish First Half with Win - Willmar Stingers
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.
