Northwoods Willmar Stingers

Quacks Whacked, Stingers Win 4-2

August 8, 2013 - Northwoods League (Northwoods)
Willmar Stingers News Release


WILLMAR, Minn. - The Madison Mallards collected more hits, drew more walks and had more scoring opportunities than the Stingers, but the Willmar defense gave Sheldon Lee a handful of plays that mitigated Madison's rallies as the Stingers won 4-2 to stay alive in the playoff race. Lee (San Francisco) improved to 4-2 on the season as the Stingers claimed the season series against the Mallards with three wins against just one loss.

The scoring began early for the Stingers for the second straight game. Michael Suchy (Florida Gulf Coast), batting from the leadoff spot once again, was hit by a pitch from Madison starter Reilly Hovis on a 3-1 pitch and scored on Danny Brennan's bomb off the scoreboard in right field, his fourth homer of the season. With the bases empty, Zack Tillery walked and Hovis immediately committed a pair of balks, allowing his Florida Gulf Coast teammate Colton Bottomley to score him from third on a groundout.

Defensively, the Stingers turned a pair of double plays and Brennan made a pair of excellent plays in centerfield to keep the Mallards offense at bay. In the 3rd inning, leadoff batter Kyle Ruchim of Madison hit a ball to the gap in left-centerfield and was caught stretching for second base by Brennan. In the 6th inning, Brennan robbed Jason Goldstein of a hit, making a diving catch on a sinking line drive. Although Brennan finished with just one hit, the significance of his home run, two RBI and two tremendous plays defensively earn him the honors as CDI player of the game.

The three relievers used by Willmar, Cody Hughes, Bobby McCormack and Bret Dahlson, combined to throw 3.0 innings without surrendering an earned run. Hughes (Montevallo) was dominant over the course of his 2.0 innings pitched, striking out four batters and allowing just one hit. After a fielding error and an infield hit against the lefty McCormack (Baylor), manager Matt Hollod elected to turn the ball over to Dahlson in the top of the 9th inning. Dahlson (Loyola Marymount) responded by retiring a pair of batters in the heart of the Madison lineup, one with a soft liner to shortstop and the other with a strikeout to close the show for save number 12 on the season.

With the win, the Stingers keep pace with the Duluth, trailing the Huskies by two games for the final playoff spot in the NWL North Division.



Northwoods League Stories from August 8, 2013


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