Mike Kraft/MDN Minot’s Bella Cimino connects with a pitch during Game 1 of a doubleheader against Madison on Aug. 1 at Corbett Field.

The final night of the regular season for the Minot Honeybees this year was much like the final night of the regular season last year, but for a completely different reason.

Last year, Minot entered its final night of play with no stakes at hand because its chances of a league championship had ended close to a month earlier.

This year, the Honeybees entered their doubleheader on Aug. 1 at Corbett Field with no stakes at play because they had assured themselves a spot in the Northwoods League Championship Series the night before, guaranteeing them at least two additional games.

That’s why the scoreboard, which displayed a 6-2 victory in favor of the Madison Night Mares in Game 1, could have been powered off at any point of the game with how little it mattered. Still, a win and a little bit of momentum heading into the postseason would have been an added bonus.

“It should be relaxing,” Minot coach Craig Montvidas said. “You want to win. You always want to win. You’re playing table tennis, you want to win. You’re throwing darts, you want to win. Same kind of thing, but the consequences are less so everyone is relaxed. Our goal was getting good at-bats and trying to get as much information as we can and building on the confidence and some of our players did that.”

Game 2 concluded after the newspaper’s deadline.

The Night Mares jumped out in front with a pair of runs in the top of the first. Kisbel Vizcaya walked and came around to score on a wild pitch for the game’s first run. Hilary Blomberg delivered Madison’s second run of the inning with an RBI single to score Tia Durst.

“(The goal was to) come out of this with no injuries and maybe find some weaknesses on their part,” Montvidas said. “As far as the game, again our Achilles heel this season is they score two runs, so before we even bat, we have a two-run deficit.”

The Honeybees got a run back in the bottom half of the inning, with Carly Cummings scoring on an RBI fielder’s choice off the bat of Shayna Myshrall.

Minot committed just one error, but it ended up being a costly one. Madison would score four unanswered runs as a result of an error with two outs that allowed Isabela Emerling to reach base safely and extend the inning. From there, the Night Mares would load the bases following an intentional walk and proceed to score back-to-back runs via walk before Addison Blomberg plated two with a single to left field to give Madison a 6-1 lead.

Minot’s Bella Cimino was mere inches from a three-run home run in the bottom of the third, but Madison center fielder Danielle Lucey made a SportsCenter-Top-10 worthy play, reaching over the fence to rob the home run.

“We had a little bit of bad luck when Bella hit the ball with two runners on and a great play by the center fielder,” Montvidas said. If that ball is just a little bit further it’s a home run and it’s a totally different game.”

Myshrall added her second RBI of the night in the seventh, scoring Trinity Gregg on a sacrifice fly.

“At the end we keep battling and that’s all you can ask of your team,” Montvidas said. “Like a boxer, we keep getting up and I think everybody believes until the end.”

Cienna Clemens pitched all seven innings for the Honeybees, allowing six runs – two earned – on six hits, striking out two and walking five. Madison’s Karlie McKenzie also went all seven innings, picking up the win by allowing two runs on four hits, striking out four and walking five.

The two teams meet again on Aug. 4 to begin a best-of-three series for the league championship. First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 p.m. at Corbett Field. Games 2 and 3 will be in Madison. Game 2 will take place on Aug. 6, with Game 3 following the next day, if necessary.