
Stingers Fight off Late St. Cloud Comeback, Defeat Rox 13-9 for Series Sweep
July 21, 2023 - Northwoods League (Northwoods)
Willmar Stingers News Release
ST. CLOUD, MN.- While the opening game of a two-game series proved to be low-scoring, that would not be the case on Friday as the Willmar Stingers won 13-9 against the St. Cloud Rox.
The runs came in bunches with it all starting in the third inning for the Stingers on one swing of the bat from MinnWest Technology Campus Player of the Game Dallas Duarte.
Duarte launched his first home run of the season in the form of a grand slam to provide the Stingers with an early 4-0 lead.
That lead would be doubled an inning later as Kevin Fitzer singled to bring in one and a bases-loaded walk added on to bring Duarte back up with the bases loaded.
Duarte capitalized on the opportunity with a single to bring in two more and put the Stingers up 8-0.
The lead wouldn't last long however as the Rox rallied for five runs in the fifth inning to knock Stingers starter Aiden Hansen out of the game.
St. Cloud would then take the lead an inning later with the big blow coming with a single from Haiden Hunt to help bring in the go-ahead run.
The Stingers were able to battle back in the seventh however as Luke Williams doubled to tie the game back up and he would be brought in with a single from Jack Hines to take the lead.
Now looking for insurance runs, Fitzer homered later in the inning for his ninth of the season to bring three more Stingers home.
Hemponix Relief Pitcher of the Game Aaron Ragat pitched the final two innings for the Stingers and didn't allow a run to secure the 13-9 victory.
The Stingers swept the Rox for the first time this season and will now return home to host the Thunder Bay Border Cats for the first time this season.
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.
Northwoods League Stories from July 21, 2023
- Gavin Schmitt Goes Eight Scoreless for Minot, Larks Shut Out by Tots - Bismarck Larks
- Pit Spitters Ride Comeback to Split Series - Kenosha Kingfish
- Dock Spiders Win Close One Over Chinooks 5-4 - Fond du Lac Dock Spiders
- Rafters Get Revenge on Battle Jacks 6-2, Score 5 Runs in the Third - Battle Creek Battle Jacks
- Loggers Take Game Two of Four-Game Series with Express 10-5 - La Crosse Loggers
- Stingers Fight off Late St. Cloud Comeback, Defeat Rox 13-9 for Series Sweep - Willmar Stingers
- Rafters Get Back in the Win Column and Split the Series with the Battle Jacks - Wisconsin Rapids Rafters
- Rox Battle Back from 8 Runs Down, Fall Short 13-9 - St. Cloud Rox
- Offense Suffocated In Series Loss Against Green Bay - Madison Mallards
- Spitters Come Back In Eighth, Split Series - Traverse City Pit Spitters
- Chinooks Swept by Dock Spiders in Second Straight Loss - Lakeshore Chinooks
- Rockford Scores Five in First, Splits Set with Wausau - Wausau Woodchucks
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- Kalamazoo Late Offense Pushes Past Kokomo in Series Opener - Kalamazoo Growlers
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- Rockford Rivets Fall to Wausau Woodchucks at Home - Rockford Rivets
- Start Time for Rockers Game on August 5th Moved to 1:05pm - Green Bay Rockers
- Battle Jacks Stun Rafters 7-5 in Extras, Erase 4 Run Deficit - Battle Creek Battle Jacks
- Rockers to Play at Warner Park for Final Time this Regular Season - Green Bay Rockers
- The Honkers' Offense Falls Silent, Thunder Bay Wins 5-2 - Rochester Honkers
- Bismarck Splits with Mankato, Defeats Minot During Three-Game Road Trip - Bismarck Larks
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