Northwoods Willmar Stingers

Stingers' Shillelaghs Bash Green Bay

August 9, 2013 - Northwoods League (Northwoods)
Willmar Stingers News Release


WILLMAR, Minn. - Just as Saint Patrick banished snakes from Ireland, so too the Stingers banished the Green Bay Bullfrogs from Willmar with a 13-3 thumping that kept Willmar alive in the playoff push. Marc Flores (Hawaii) established a new single-season franchise record for RBIs, every batter in the Stingers lineup collected a hit and eight players either scored or recorded RBIs as the Stingers swept the two-game set and split the season series against the visitors from the south division.

Flores and the Stingers bolted out of the gate, scoring two runs in the 1st inning on an RBI groundout by Zack Tillery and the record-tying RBI from Flores on a befitting solo home run. Green Bay made the game interesting early though, scoring two runs in its half of the 2nd inning to tie the game at 2-2. The Stingers responded with a run in the bottom of the 2nd after a fieding error allowed Michael Suchy to score from second base.

The Willmar offense laid into Bullfrogs pitching in the middle innings, scoring four runs in the 5th and five runs in the 6th. With two outs in the 5th inning, Flores, the CDI player of the game, homered to right-centerfield on the first pitch from Cal Rohrman with nobody on base for the record-breaking RBI. The home run, number 13 on the season for Flores, was capped off by a congratulatory hug from Suchy (Florida Gulf Coast) at home plate. Flores, though, wasn't the only player in a Shamrock-styled uniform that gave the crowd of 1,245 fans an explosion in the sky. With the bases loaded in the 6th inning, Nick Halamandaris (California) registered the fifth grand slam of the season for the Stingers, giving Willmar a commanding 12-2 lead. Halamandaris' home run was his sixth of the season and gives him 40 RBIs.

TJ Whidby turned in the fourth straight quality outing from Willmar starters. Whidby (Central Arizona) earned his sixth win of the season, pitching 7.0 innings while scattering nine hits, allowing just two runs. Willmar collected eight extra-base hits whereas Green Bay had just one. Colton Bottomley (Florida Gulf Coast) and Jake Gronsky (Monmouth) each turned in exceptional performances as well. Bottomley finished a perfect 5-for-5 as each player notched a pair of doubles and two RBIs.

The Stingers trail the Duluth Huskies for a playoff spot by two games with only two games remaining in the regular season. The Stingers will now head to Waterloo for a game against the Bucks before returning home for the 2013 season finale on Sunday.

The 2013 season in presented by Charter. For more on your Willmar Stingers please visit the West Central Tribune at www.wctrib.com.



Northwoods League Stories from August 9, 2013


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