Stingers Hammer League-Best Bucks
July 18, 2013 - Northwoods League (Northwoods)
Willmar Stingers News Release
WILLMAR, Minn. - If everything that goes up must come down, then it follows that the Waterloo Bucks were bound to lose and the Stingers were bound to win; and it was so. Willmar pounded 21 hits, scored 14 runs and generally battered the Northwoods League's best pitching staff in front of nearly a thousand fans at Bill Taunton Stadium. The 14-7 win came on the heels of a heart-wrenching extra-innings loss and handed the Bucks their second loss in the month of July.
The scoring started immediately for Willmar as Michael Suchy -- thrust into the unusual but highly effective role as leadoff batter - and Kyle Perry were both plated by a Zack Tillery double after beginning the game with back-to-back base hits. Logan Moon (Missouri Southern) and Jake Gronsky accomplished the same feat, reaching base to lead off the 2nd, helping to develop a trend of consistent pressure on Bucks pitchers. After Max Dutto was hit by a pitch, Perry notched his second hit of the game for a pair of RBI as the Stingers claimed an early 6-0 lead through two innings. In the third, Nick Halamandaris (California) and Logan Moon each reached base with nobody out, setting the stage later for Michael Suchy. Suchy (Florida Gulf Coast) redirected a 2-2 pitch over the centerfield wall for his eighth home run of the season, giving the Stingers an incredible 10-0 lead.
The Bucks scored two runs in the 4th, and three in the 6th to make things interesting but the Stingers more or less erased the Bucks' progress by responding with two run frames of their own. The top third of the Stingers lineup, Suchy, Perry and Tillery (Flordia Gulf Coast) finished the game a combined 11-for-15 with eight runs scored and nine RBIs. The bottom of the order also played tremendously, with Dutto (California) and Gronsky (Monmouth) combining to finish 6-for-9 with an RBI and three runs scored.
Nick Bates pitched well over five innings, improving his record (2-0) while recording four strikeouts. The right-hander out of St. Louis also turned in a couple of nifty defensive plays to fend off the Bucks, including a 1-6-3 inning-ending double play in the 3rd.
Kyle Perry, the CDI player of the game, turned in a perfect 5-for-5 performance, batting in the second spot in the order. The five hits bolstered Perry's season average from .284 to .323.
The Stingers will now turn to Chris Kubitz (2-2, 5.76 ERA) in an attempt to win the away-home-away series tomorrow in Waterloo.
Northwoods League Stories from July 18, 2013
- Mallards Sneak by Bullfrogs to Even Series - Green Bay Rockers
- Loggers Have No Trouble with Eau Claire - La Crosse Loggers
- St. Cloud Rox Take Down Duluth Thursday, 6-2 - St. Cloud Rox
- May Helps Mallards Avoid First Three-Game Skid of Season - Madison Mallards
- Home Runs Lift Woodchucks over Rafters - Wisconsin Rapids Rafters
- Woodchucks Use Combined Effort to Defeat Rafters 5-3 - Wausau Woodchucks
- Express announce details of 2013 Northwoods League All-Star festivities - Eau Claire Express
- Mallards Hope to Avoid First Three-Game Skid of Season - Madison Mallards
- Blue Anchors Top Thunder Bay 14-9 - Alexandria Blue Anchors
- Stingers Hammer League-Best Bucks - Willmar Stingers
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
