Sports stats



Northwoods Willmar Stingers

Late Eighth Inning Rally Keeps Border Cats Playoff Hopes Alive, Defeat Stingers 10-6

July 1, 2023 - Northwoods League (Northwoods)
Willmar Stingers News Release


THUNDER BAY, Ontario - Following a season high 21 runs in yesterday's series opener, the Willmar Stingers were unable to reach that same level against the Thunder Bay Border Cats on Saturday.

In the top of the first inning, it appeared that the Stingers would be in for another great offensive day as Graysen Tarlow launched a solo home run to give Willmar a lead after the game's second at-bat.

MinnWest Technology Campus Player of the Game Aidan Bryne would double the lead in the inning with an RBI single which brought home Kevin Fitzer.

That meant Stingers starting pitcher Will Whelan would pitch with the lead, however it wouldn't be an easy day in his first start of the summer.

After getting two outs with just one run coming across, Tyler Kehoe would change everything with one swing as he hit a two-run homer to give Thunder Bay the lead.

That wasn't all for the inning as Whelan allowed three consecutive walks and a wild pitch to bring in another run for the Border Cats.

Stingers field manager Freddy Smith would have to go to his bullpen early and Hemponix Relief Pitcher of the Game Chris Rofe was able to provide length and silence the Border Cats.

After hitting the first batter he faced to make it 5-2 Border Cats, Rofe threw three scoreless innings while striking out five batters and not allowing a hit.

Each team would exchange runs in the middle innings to make it 6-3 Border Cats entering the seventh inning where the Stingers made their best push to get back into the game.

With a runner on first, Byrne crushed his first home run of the season to bring the game within one and a batter later, Parker Stinson tied the game at six with one swing.

Unfortunately for the Stingers, that wouldn't be enough as the Border Cats put up four runs in the eighth inning which was all capped off by a Jonah Sutton three-run home run.

Willmar would be unable to come back in the ninth as it dropped a hard fought battle on Canada Day.

The Stingers and Border Cats meet again tomorrow to continue a four-game 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.

• Discuss this story on the Northwoods League message board...

Northwoods League Stories from July 1, 2023


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.

OurSports Central