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Northwoods Willmar Stingers

Stingers Drop Series Finale at Thunder Bay, 9-6

July 22, 2012 - Northwoods League (Northwoods)
Willmar Stingers News Release


THUNDER BAY, Ontario - Back-to-back home runs by Hunter Dozier and Kenny Roberts capped off a five-run third inning to give the Stingers a 5-1 lead, but the Border Cats came back with six runs in the next two frames to take a 7-5 lead en route to a 9-6 victory at Port Arthur Stadium Sunday night.

Willmar's big inning began with a base hit by Forrestt Allday (Central Arkansas) and an RBI single by Max Kuhn (Kentucky). Kuhn finished the game 3-for-5 and now has nine RBIs in his last nine games.

Following a Dillon Haupt (San Diego) walk, Dozier (Stephen F. Austin) lined a ball over the left-field fence with two outs for his sixth home run of the year, giving him 35 RBIs at the All-Star break. Roberts (Alabama) followed with a home run down the left-field line as well for his league-leading 13th roundtripper of the season. Roberts' 13 homers are tied for the fifth most in a single season in Northwoods League history.

Willmar held a 5-1 advantage at that point, but Thunder Bay scored two runs in the bottom of the inning to halve its deficit and plated four more in the fourth to take a 7-5 lead. The Border Cats led the rest of the way.

Willmar came within one in the seventh after a solo home run to right field by Corben Green (Louisiana Monroe) made the score 7-6. Green's seventh homer gave him 30 RBIs in 27 games. As a team, the Stingers have now hit 50 home runs to rank eighth in Northwoods League history for a single season. Willmar continues to be on pace to set the all-time record, which is 59 by St. Cloud in 1997.

Roberts led the overall offensive attack for Willmar with four hits in the game to raise his batting average to .288. Dozier, Allday and Mitch Rowan (San Francisco) each added two hits apiece.

Four Stingers will represent Willmar in the 18th annual Northwoods League All-Star Game Tuesday in Madison, Wis. Brady Anderson, Hunter Dozier, Jerad McCrummen and Michael Suchy will all participate in the contest prior to the Stingers beginning their final stretch with a home game Thursday at 7:05 p.m. It's Minnesota Twins Night presented by Erbert & Gerbert's and media partner KDJS 1590AM. Two-time World Series Champion manager Tom Kelly will be at the game.

The 2012 season is presented by Charter. For more information on your Willmar Stingers be sure to visit the West Central Tribune at www.wctrib.com.

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