
Stingers Crowned Second-Half Champions
August 13, 2022 - Northwoods League (Northwoods)
Willmar Stingers News Release
WILLMAR, MN - The Willmar Stingers became second-half champions tonight after their 11-1 win against the Duluth Huskies.
With one game remaining in the regular season, the Stingers will finish the second half above the St. Cloud Rox in the Great Plains West. The Stingers will face the Rox for a three-game playoff series in the first round of the Northwoods League Playoffs starting on August 14th.
The scoring started in the bottom of the third when the nine-hole hitter, Kyle Payne, came to the plate and sent his first home run of the season to left field. Payne would send two batters home on the blast to put the Stingers up 2-0.
In the very next inning, Payne would hit another tw0-run bomb back to left field. He would go on to become the MinnWest Technology Campus Player of the Game. Before heading into the game, Payne only had three extra-base hits on the year (two doubles and a triple in the first half). His two home runs in today's game earned him the honors of being the Northwoods League Player of the Night.
More runs were scored after Payne's second home run in the fourth. Fitzgerald was able to drive a runner home in his first game back as a Stinger. Drey Dirksen was also able to hit a double that sent two runners across home plate. It was Dirksen's 50th RBI of the season.
The winning pitcher was Seth Miller. Miller threw six scoreless innings while striking out eight en route to his second Northwoods League win. It was his most dominating performance of the season.
The Stingers close the regular season tomorrow. Game 68 of 68 starts tomorrow at Bil Taunton Stadium. The first pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.
Northwoods League Stories from August 13, 2022
- Dock Spiders Win Season Finale, Finish Above .500 For 6th Straight Year - Fond du Lac Dock Spiders
- Rox Win 50 Games in Back-to-Back Seasons with Comeback Win in Bismarck - St. Cloud Rox
- Rockers Fall on Road to Chinooks in 2022 Regular Season Finale - Green Bay Rockers
- Woodchucks Drop Season Finale, Start Playoffs Tomorrow - Wausau Woodchucks
- Huskies Drop Regular Season Finale - Duluth Huskies
- Battle Jacks Cap off First Season with 6-5 Win over Rivets - Battle Creek Battle Jacks
- Chinooks Sweep Rockers in Doubleheader Finale - Lakeshore Chinooks
- Rockers Close out 2022 Season on Road at Chinooks - Green Bay Rockers
- Honkers Zoom Past Express in Home Finale - Rochester Honkers
- Stingers Crowned Second-Half Champions - Willmar Stingers
- Loggers Hold on to Beat MoonDogs, 5-4. - La Crosse Loggers
- Kingfish Fall to Kalamazoo in Penultimate Contest - Kenosha Kingfish
- Dock Spiders Fall in Road Finale to Rafters, Conclude Season Tomorrow at Herr-Baker Field - Fond du Lac Dock Spiders
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