Hot Tots short stop Jaxon Goldberg tags out a runner at second base during their home game against the Mankato MoonDogs on Wednesday, July 1. Nathan Beitler/MDN

The Minot Hot Tots were off to s strong start for the second half of the 2026 season, taking down the Mankato MoonDogs 11-6 on Tuesday, June 30, to start the last few weeks of the season 1-0.

Though the Hot Tots finished last in the Northwoods League Great Plains West Division in the first half of the season with a record of 13 wins, 23 losses, the team has a fresh start at clinching a spot in the playoffs.

The Hot Tots faced the MoonDogs again on Wednesday night, July 1, for the second of their two game series.

The MoonDogs started the night off with a two run lead in the top of the first inning from an RBI double.

The Hot Tots were unable to bring a runner across home plate until Alex Altmann, Joe DuSell scores, Drew Reaves and Caleb Gipson scored on four back to back at bats in the bottom of the fourth inning.

By the time Minot made their way onto the board, the MoonDogs had already widdened their lead from two runs to 8-0 in the top of the fourth.

The Hot Tots cut the deficit down to two in the bottom of the fifth with Micah McCoy running home on a wild picth and an RBI single to short stop by Jaxon Goldberg that brought Alex Altmann across home plate once again.

The MoonDogs took their two runs back in the top of the sixth, and the team had a scoreless seventh inning, leaving the MoonDogs leading 10-6 before deadline at the top of the eighth.

The Hot Tots will face off against the Badlands Big Sticks once again to kick off their Fourth of July celebration with Military Appreciation Night on Thursday, July 2. The night will feature special military appreciation jerseys for the players and a flyover from Minot Air Force Base.