The Minot Honeybees and Hot Tots find success in seasons one and two

MINOT, N.D.– History was made in Minot this year, as the Honeybees wrapped up their first ever season. Although the Honeybees didn’t have quite the season that they were expecting, the organization says that the season was still a success.

” It was a great season. I think that just for the education about what this is and it’s such a new thing right? Summer collegiate baseball leagues have existed across the country for so long. So, it was really fun to just show people, okay you know there are softball players that really want to come and play during the summer time and get better at their sport as well. It was even more fun to see the young girls come out and support the team as well. We had a great inaugural season opening day where Minot youth fast pitch came out and they had like hundreds of people that came out and supported the girls, so we kind of saw that throughout the season. So, it was really fun to just see the community really get behind the team”, said General Manager Monica Hocking.

As we all know and had to do, you have to crawl before you can walk. In their inaugural season, the Honeybees exceeded some expectations.

“I’d say on the field we defiantly didn’t win as many games as we’d like to, but the community support was awesome and really just seeing Corbett Field on those sold out nights. We had four sold out nights for the Honeybees, and to see that place packed for people to watch women’s softball really was rewarding and in that regard exceeded my expectations”, Assistant General Manager John Armstrong.

As for the Hot Tots, year number two was success as they doubled their attendance numbers from last season.

“We doubled our number of sold out games for the season, which was just really awesome to see that time and time again throughout the entire year. One of the things that stood out to me from this from the Hot Tots, is just the atmosphere of the team and how the community really came out and supported the boys. They were having fun. They were playing better on the field and it was just a really fun atmosphere from the players to the on field entertainment that we do. So, it was a great season and I’m really happy with it”, said Hocking.

The theme that Hot Tots organization came up with this year was too hot to handle, and they were defiantly able to heat up.

“The two biggest points is the great baseball in the Northwoods League. It’s really one of the most established collegiate summer leagues in the country. I saw a stat from last year that over 12 percent of MLB rosters come from the Northwoods League, but not everyone is a baseball fan, so I think really kind of expanding the experience more like a minor league environment where there’s fun stuff going on in between innings. The inflatables, games, beer. There’s something for everyone at a Hot Tots game, so I think that’s really appealing to the community at large rather than just focusing on the baseball side of the things really helps garner that support from the community”, said Armstrong.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KX NEWS.