Sean Williams/MDN Christian Perez (33) of the Minot Hot Tots swinging the bat during a game that occurred at Corbett Field earlier this season.

It was a weekend of firsts for the Minot Hot Tots, who are off to an excellent start to begin the second half of the Northwoods League season.

Winners of three out of the last four games, the Hot Tots began the weekend by picking up their first series win in team history with a sweep of the Minnesota Mud Puppies on Thursday and Friday.

Helping the team to an 8-5 win over the Mud Puppies on Thursday was Thomas Rollauer (2-for-5); Nic Pepe (1-for-3); Drew Woodcox (2-for-4, 2B) and Ryan Recio (2-for-4, 3B, HR, 2 RBI). Saul Soto came up big out of the bullpen, tossing 1.2 innings with two strikeouts and picking up a save in the process.

On Friday, the Hot Tots secured their first ever series win and sweep by taking down the Mud Puppies in a 9-4 ballgame. Offensively, they were led again by Pepe (1-for-3, RBI); Recio (3-for-4); Woodcox (1-for-5, 2B, RBI) and Damone Hale (2-for-4, HR, 2 RBI).

Minot State Beaver Trevyn Badger took the mound on Friday night as well and spun his best performance of the summer by tossing 6.0 innings and allowing no runs on two hits with four walks and seven strikeouts.

The weekend of firsts still had more excitement left at Corbett Field, as the Hot Tots picked up their first walk-off win in team history with a 5-4 victory over the La Crosse Loggers on Sunday night.

Continuing their scorching-hot weekend were Pepe (1-for-3, RBI) and Woodcox (2-for-5, HR, 2 RBI) as they led the way for Minot at the plate. On the mound, Rawley Hector went six innings and allowed three runs (one earned) on six hits with two walks and two strikeouts.

With the game tied 4-4 in the bottom of the ninth, Pepe walked and advanced to third on a Woodcox single. The timely hit by Woodcox proved to be massive, as Pepe scored on a wild pitch to secure the 5-4 win for Minot.

The impressive performances of a handful of Hot Tots players stretches far beyond what has been happening at Corbett Field and within the Great Plains West Division.

Heading into Monday, Nic Pepe is slashing .304/.450/.353 with 31 hits, five doubles, 18 RBI and 35 walks in 29 games this season. His .304 batting average ranks him in the top 20 of all qualified Northwoods League hitters and his .450 on-base percentage ranks in the top ten of the league.

Ryan Recio and Brannon Mondragon have hit four home runs each, which places them both in a tie for sixth in the Northwoods League. Just ahead of them is Christian Perez, who has five home runs and is tied for fifth in the league.

Drew Woodcox is fairly new to the Magic City, but the outfielder has been a welcomed addition to the squad. In 15 games with the Hot Tots entering Monday, Woodcox is hitting .298 with six doubles, two home runs and 15 RBI.

Right-hander Paxton Miller’s 4.78 ERA on the mound and 22 strikeouts are both top 15 in the Northwoods League in each category.

After winning three of their last four games, the Hot Tots have played themselves into second place in the Great Plains West Division, where they sit with a 3-3 record and behind the St. Cloud Rox who occupy first place.

As the team looks to keep up the improved play, they will have to do so on the road. The Hot Tots began a two-game series with the Mankato MoonDogs last night, then they will travel to Willmar for a four-game series beginning on Wednesday.

With Mother Nature putting a damper on the opening game of the series with Mankato, the Hot Tots were trailing 7-3 in the bottom of the seventh last night when play was paused. A three-run home run by Woodcox provided the runs for Minot.