The Minot Hot Tots would have preferred to go out on a high note to end the season, but despite the 8-7 loss to Badlands on Saturday, Aug. 9, at Corbett Field to close out their year, it was still one for the record books.

The Hot Tots finished the regular season with 28 wins, besting their previous team mark of 27 set last year. Their 18-18 record during the second half of the season also established a new program high, supplanting the 16-20 record they recorded during last year’s second half. It was also the first time they finished a half a season at .500 or better.

Minot nearly finished above .500, but a late rally came up just short against the Big Sticks, who jumped out to a 7-0 lead after four innings. Badlands (21-16) plated five runs in the third after taking the lead with a run in the second. The Big Sticks batted around the order in the third, collecting four hits and taking advantage of two errors. Justin Flannery delivered a single to left with the bases loaded that ended up clearing the bases, with Flannery coming around to score as well after an error by left fielder Rowan Felsch.

The Hot Tots committed five errors in the game.

A pair of three-run innings in the fourth and sixth innings got the Hot Tots back within striking distance of the lead. Christian Stratis and Andrew Marquis came through with run-scoring hits in the fourth and Blake Cavill, Ethan Reader and Felsch did the same in the sixth to pull Minot within 8-7.

Minot loaded the bases in the seventh with one out, but Badlands pitcher Seth Broadwell struck out Marquis and Matt Toomey to end the threat. The Hot Tots went down in order in both the eighth and the ninth as Broadwell picked up a three-inning save, striking out six while allowing just two hits.

The game was played with just two umpires once home plate umpire Justice Hallman left the game in the top of the third inning with an injury. First-base umpire Bret Miell moved behind the plate to replace Hallman.

The Hot Tots finished six games back of Mankato, which grabbed the second playoff spot in the Great Plains West division. Mankato joins St. Cloud as representatives in the 2025 Northwoods League playoffs, which features the first half and second half division championship for all four divisions.

Among active players, Cavill led Minot with a .301 batting average and seven home runs, Toomey hit a team-high 18 extra-base hits, leading the Hot Tots in both doubles (14) and triples (4). Stratis knocked in 40 RBIs. Despite not being with the team following the All-Star break, one of Minot’s all-stars, Henry Allen, still ended up leading the team in batting average (.366) and home runs (14). His batting average was tied for fourth in the Northwoods League and his 14 home runs was tied for second, just three behind Duluth’s Ethan Surowiec.