Stingers Stung in Rochester
July 13, 2013 - Northwoods League (Northwoods)
Willmar Stingers News Release
ROCHESTER, Minn. - The Stingers have entered uncharted territory. Losers of three straight games, the 2013 Stingers find themselves in something profoundly unfamiliar: An actual losing streak. The Rochester Honkers, due for a win themselves, pitched brilliantly to drop the Stingers by a 6-1 score.
Throughout the game Willmar made a few mistakes, sure, but they also had a bunch of bad luck. For example, Michael Murray was cruising in relief of starter Chris Kubitz when Rochester outfielder Kevin Barker grounded a ball to third base - literally, to third base. The ball popped over Max Kuhn's head, scoring a runner from second and continued a trend for Rochetser. The Honkers scored all of their runs with two outs, including five on a pair of home runs in the second inning.
Murray (Florida Gulf Coast) was effective in 2.2 innings of relief. At one point, 26 of Murray's 33 pitches had been thrown for strikes, a welcome departure from recent tendencies of the bullpen to be out of the strike zone. Bobby McCormack (Baylor) pitched a scoreless inning of relief to cap off a return to form for the Willmar bullpen.
Matt Kent began the season with a 2-0 record and having been handed a pair of tough-luck losses turned in his best performance of the season. The lefty pitched eight strong innings, striking out nine. The only real mistake he made was to the CDI Player of the game for the second consecutive night, Max Kuhn. Kuhn (Kentucky) launched a fifth inning home run, bringing his season total to four. Though Kuhn did not make the all-star game he has certainly played like one for the Stingers this season. Kuhn has the second most RBI for Willmar this season with 32 and has logged three home runs in his last ten games. Kuhn nearly had a multi-homer game, but was denied by Kalei Hanawahine on a tremoundous play in left field to rob the Willmar third baseman, recording the final out of the game.
Four Stingers, it was announced today, made the 2013 NWL all-star game in Eau Claire, Wis. Marc Flores (Hawaii), Michael Suchy (Florida Gulf Coast), Colin Poche (Arkansas) and Abe Bobb (San Francisco) have been selected by coaches and media personnel as being the best of the best this season.
The Stingers will turn to Andrew Woeck of NC State for Saturday's game in Rochester. Woeck has been victorious in each of his first two starts of the season, striking out 14 batters in just 13 innings.
Northwoods League Stories from July 13, 2013
- Stingers Edge Honkers in Seventh Inning - Rochester Honkers
- Bombers Blow by Bullfrogs, Even Series - Green Bay Rockers
- Express Ride 14-Hit Attack to Down Rafters, 9-1 - Wisconsin Rapids Rafters
- Mallards Shut Out for First Time of Season - Madison Mallards
- Chinooks Shut out Mallards 3-0 - Lakeshore Chinooks
- Woodchucks Turn Tables on Loggers - Wausau Woodchucks
- Rox Fall to Thunder Bay on the Road 6-1 - St. Cloud Rox
- Martin & Gregory Named to Northwoods League All-Star Roster - St. Cloud Rox
- Kent and Burgess to Represent Honkers in All-Star Game - Rochester Honkers
- Mallards Try for Third Straight against the Chinooks - Madison Mallards
- Blue Anchors Split Doubleheader with Bucks - Alexandria Blue Anchors
- Stingers Stung in Rochester - Willmar Stingers
- Rox Nip Cats - Thunder Bay Border Cats
- Tyler Sparger a NWL All-Star - Eau Claire Express
- Twichell Delivers Walk-Off Winner - Mankato MoonDogs
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