KARI GIBB/MDN Hot Tots pitcher Archer Stankowski (26) winds up in action against the Loggers at Corbett Field on Friday.

The second game of a two game home stand with the La Crosse Loggers provided fireworks to offset the occasional sprinkle. The Hot Tots scored 12 runs on 12 hits compared to 11 runs on 11 hits for the Loggers. Minot would win 12-11 in the end.

With one out, Tristan Moore was walked to reach first base. With two outs, Adam Berghult singled, Moore advanced to third. Moore would score shortly after that when a wild pitch was thrown. Wyatt Reginato was walked to put Berghult on second. Caden Parker singled next and advanced Reginato to second and scored Berghult.

Nick Alonso was walked next, Reginato scored on a wild pitch. Holthaus also scored on a wild pitch before the end of the inning giving the Tots the 5-0 lead. The Loggers were able to narrow that lead by scoring two runs at the top of the second inning.

At the bottom of the second inning, Jonah Shields singled to start the inning. Moore doubled, Shields advanced to third. Berghult was walked two batters later. Reginato singled and scored Shields. Moore scored as well. Parker singled and Berghult scored to give Minot the 8-2 lead after two innings of play.

La Crosse would make a game out of things with four runs at the top of the fourth inning and four more at the top of the sixth inning to tie the game 10-10 going into the seventh inning. Minot would score a run at the bottom of the seventh and another at the bottom of the eighth to take a 12-10 lead into the final inning of play.

The Hot Tots were 12-for-35 batting with two errors as a team. Reginato was a perfect 3-for-3 with four RBIs. Shields, Berghult, Parker and Holhaus each added two runs in the game. Five Minot pitchers spent time on the mound. Hudson Yarbrough started the game and pitched two innings, allowed two runs and one hit. He walked five batters. Rhys Francis pitched the last two innings and allowed one run and no hits for the save.

The Loggers were 11-for-30 at the plate with two errors as a team. La Crosse used seven pitchers in the game.

Hot Tots 4, Badlands Big Sticks 3

DICKINSON – The Minot Hot Tots spent their weekend on the road with a pair of games against the Badlands Big Sticks in Dickinson. Game one took place Saturday, June 15, with the Hot Tots taking the 4-3 win.

The Big Sticks were on the board first with a run scored at the bottom of the first inning. The Hot Tots evened the score at the top of the second inning. The Big Sticks jumped ahead with a run at the bottom of the second while the Hot Tots again evened the score with a run at the top of the third inning. The teams entered the fifth inning tied 2-2 until the bottom of the fifth when the Big Sticks added a run to take the lead 3-2. Minot added a run at the top of the sixth inning and added another run at the top of the seventh for the 4-2 win.

The Hot Tots were 6-for-37 batting. Mateo Serna was 3-for-5 with two RBIs and scored one run. Adam Berghult, Caden Parker and Nick Alonso each added a hit in the game. Griffin Shearon pitched two innings and allowed two runs on three hits. Luke Krouse pitched four innings and allowed one run on five hits. Ray Keane pitched one inning and Evan Dempsey pitched two innings and neither allowed any runs in the three innings of combined relief.

The Big Sticks were 11-for-35 at the plate. Quade Peters was 3-for-4 batting and Keenan Proctor was 3-for-5 for the Big Sticks. Evan Applewick and Mason Strong each were 2-for-4 batting as well. Tyler Conklin started and pitched five innings. He allowed two runs on three hits. Konner Entz pitched two innings and allowed two runs on two hits. Braxton Greenberg pitched two innings and allowed only one hit.

Badlands Big Sticks 13, Hot Tots 9

BISMARCK – The Minot Hot Tots battled in game two in Bismarck to a xx-x loss after the game one win for Minot.The Big Sticks scored five runs at the bottom of the third inning and four more at the bottom of the fifth enroute to the xx-x win. Minot made a run at the top of the eighth inning with six runs to narrow the gap to 11-8 for Badlands. The Big Sticks added two runs at the bottom of the same inning and would take the win in the end.

The Hot Tots were 7-for-35 at the plate with three team errors. Jack Matousek hit a solo homerun at the top of the ninth inning to cut the lead by one. Jonah Shields was 2-for-5 in the game. Berghult, Serna, PringleJack Matousek and Keanu Jacobs-Guishard each had a hit in the effort.

The Big Sticks were 12-for-35 batting with three team errors. Keenan Carpenter was 4-for-5 with two RBIs and three runs scored in the win. Brant Kragel, Tyler Tobey and Noah Wicks each added two hits in the game.