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(NewsDakota.com) With all the runs the Oakes Babe Ruth baseball team has scored throughout the regular season, and throughout the District 6 playoffs in Steele, the boys from Oakes just needed one on Tuesday afternoon to win the District 6 Championship as they held off Valley City 1-0 in Steele.

Oakes (18-0) scored the only run of the game in the third inning with a sacrifice fly by Michael Kelly that scored Brady Ptacek. Valley City (10-8) had their lead off man reach third base in the top of the seventh to give them a chance, but Bryce Meehl was able to strike out the final batter for the victory, and to send Oakes to Casselton.

Valley City outhit Oakes 5-2 in the contest, but it was not enough to generate any offense.  Dalton Ondracek and Jordan Magnuson each had two hits, with Magnuson capping a brilliant tournament.  Ondracek took the loss, allowing one unearned run and two hits through six innings.

Valley City head coach Lance Lukes summed up tough emotions after the game.  “This was a tough game to swallow.  We felt we outplayed (Oakes) in certain aspects but at same time they outplayed us in certain parts as well,”  he said.

Lukes was also complimentary of the champions.  “They are a good team and undefeated for a reason.  You have to give them credit, they capitalized on a mistake we made and it turned out to be what decided the game,” he said. 

Oakes will represent District 6 at the State Class B Babe Ruth Tournament in Casselton starting August 3. Coverage of Oakes games will be heard on KDDR-AM 1220/FM 95.9 and NewsDakota.com.