No-No Escapes Woeck, Stingers Split Double Header
August 5, 2013 - Northwoods League (Northwoods)
Willmar Stingers News Release
WILLMAR, Minn. - The Northwoods League is a one-of-a-kind grind. Every team has experienced first-hand the demanding rigors of a schedule that requires teams to compete in 70 games over the course of 75 days, but the Stingers endured another wrinkle in the format. The Stingers hosted a game at noon, then hopped on a bus to take the hour-plus drive to St. Cloud for a night cap on the second-to-last Sunday of the season. In the first game against the Alexandria Blue Anchors, the Stingers were bolstered by a superb effort from right-hander Andrew Woeck as the pitcher out of North Carolina State pitched Willmar's second nine-inning complete game of the season. Woeck's rarified start was excellent, but the complete game was just a side note compared to what he nearly accomplished: a no-hitter.
Woeck burned through the Blue Anchors lineup for the majority of the afternoon, pitching 8.2 innings without allowing a hit. The fans in attendance at Bill Taunton Stadium rose to their feet for the 9th inning and gave Woeck a standing ovation after Kris Goodman spoiled the no-no with an RBI double over the out-stretched glove of Colton Bottomley. Woeck, the patently obvious choice for CDI player of the game, struck out 12 batters, walked one and the singular run that scored against him was unearned in the Stingers 6-1 victory over an Alexandria team that came into the contest with the league's second highest batting average of .283.
In the second game, the Stingers trailed early 3-0 but rallied to tie the game. The rally began with a single run in the top of the 2nd, a leadoff homerun by Michael Suchy. The home run for Suchy (Florida Gulf Coast) was his 11th of the season and his third over the past five games. Trailing 3-1 in the top of the third Marc Flores (Hawaii) came just a foot or so short of recording his 12th round-tripper of the season, settling instead for a one-out double. Following a Suchy single, Nick Halamandaris laced a ball to the gap in left-center that plated the pair of runners and tied the game 3-3.
Halamandaris, the CDI player of the game in the nightcap, finished 3-for-4 with a double, two RBI and a walk in a 9-3 loss. Halamandaris continues to hit excellently after a late-July slump and has emerged as the hottest bat in the lineup over the past few games. With the split of the double header, the Stingers trail both Mankato and Duluth by one game with seven games remaining on the season.
The 2013 season is presented by Charter. For more on your Willmar Stingers, please visit the West Central Triubune at www.wctrib.com.
Northwoods League Stories from August 5, 2013
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- Morgan Tosses Complete Game, But Woodchucks Fsll - Wausau Woodchucks
- Kent Flirts with Perfection in Win - Rochester Honkers
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- Bucks Ranked Number One Team in Nation; Tie Franchise Record for Wins - Waterloo Bucks
- Staub Hopes to Snap Six-Game Slide - Madison Mallards
- No-No Escapes Woeck, Stingers Split Double Header - Willmar Stingers
- Blue Anchors Lose Split Doubleheader to Willmar and Waterloo - Alexandria Blue Anchors
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