Midland Explorers Capture ISC II Title with Extra-Inning Walk-Off Home Run by Preston Sherman
The 2025 ISC II Championship delivered daytime drama under the summer sun at Caswell Park in Mankato, MN, where the Midland Explorers edged out the Georgian Bay Giants 3-1 in a thrilling nine-inning contest on August 1. Stellar pitching and defense were on full display, but it was Preston Sherman’s walk-off home run that ultimately crowned the Explorers ISC II champions. (Click video below to see Sherman’s home run, broadcaster Blair Setford with the call)
Game Recap
From the first pitch, it was clear this would be a clash between two talented and evenly matched teams. The starting pitchers—Valen Mata for Midland and Taiga Onishi for Georgian Bay—traded zeros early, shutting down scoring opportunities with clutch strikeouts and pinpoint control.
The Explorers struck first when Shane Wark blasted a solo homer in the bottom of the third, giving Midland a 1-0 lead. The Giants answered in the top of the sixth, as Mac Mulvey launched a solo shot of his own to even the score at one apiece—a deadlock that held through regulation.
With tension mounting, both teams played flawless defense, committing zero errors over nine innings. The eighth and ninth innings unfolded under international tiebreaker rules, with a runner placed on second to start each frame. Georgian Bay threatened in the top of the ninth but couldn’t bring Wade Kewageshig home from third, thanks to outstanding relief pitching by Jon Gwizdala.
The defining moment came in the bottom of the ninth. With Jessie Cornell placed on second, Preston Sherman delivered a towering home run to left, sending Explorers players pouring out of the dugout to celebrate an unforgettable walk-off championship moment.
Pitching Duel
- Valen Mata (Midland Explorers): 7 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 8 K, 2 BB
Mata dominated for most of the game, allowing only Mac Mulvey’s solo homer to blemish an otherwise outstanding outing. - Jon Gwizdala (Midland Explorers, relief): 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 3 K, 1 BB
Gwizdala shut down the Giants in extra innings, stranding key runners in scoring position. - Taiga Onishi (Georgian Bay Giants): 8 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 12 K, 0 BB
Onishi was nearly unhittable and finished with 12 strikeouts, but was ultimately undone by Preston Sherman’s game-winning home run.
Key Moments
- Bottom 3rd: Shane Wark opened the scoring with a solo home run, giving Midland the early edge.
- Top 6th: Mac Mulvey answered for the Giants with a solo shot of his own, tying the game 1-1.
- Bottom 7th: Valen Mata’s triple put pressure on the Giants, but Taiga Onishi escaped the jam with back-to-back strikeouts.
- Bottom 9th: Preston Sherman’s two-run homer, scoring Jessie Cornell, clinched the championship and set off jubilant celebrations among the Explorers fans.
Standout Performers
- Preston Sherman (Midland Explorers): 1-for-4, 2 RBIs, walk-off home run.
- Valen Mata (Midland Explorers): 7 strong innings, eight strikeouts, steady presence on the mound.
- Jon Gwizdala (Midland Explorers): Two scoreless innings in relief with three strikeouts.
- Shane Wark (Midland Explorers): Key solo homer to open the scoring.
- Jessie Cornell (Midland Explorers): Scored the game-winning run in the ninth.
- Mac Mulvey (Georgian Bay Giants): 2-for-3, solo home run to lead the Giants’ offense.
- Taiga Onishi (Georgian Bay Giants): 12 strikeouts in a brilliant, hard-luck loss.
- Wade Kewageshig (Georgian Bay Giants): Key baserunner during the ninth-inning threat.
Final Thoughts
The Midland Explorers are your 2025 ISC II Champions, thanks to timely hitting, flawless defense, and a pitching staff that rose to every challenge. Preston Sherman’s ninth-inning walk-off home run—scoring Jessie Cornell—will echo in Midland sports history. Both teams left it all on the field, but on this summer afternoon in Mankato, ultimate glory belonged to Midland.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Georgian Bay | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 0 |
| Midland | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 0 |
Click here for the ISC II Award Winners at ISC Fastpitch