WAHPETON, N.D. (NewsDakota.com) – Both pitchers were throwing strikes and batters were getting themselves out. It was an old fashioned pitchers duel between Mitchell Taylor of Valley City Post 60 and Bryce Schmidt of Wahpeton Post 20. But in the end, an unearned run turned out to be the difference as Wahpeton slipped past Valley City 1-0 with an unearned run in the bottom of the seventh inning.
The inning started when Zach Manock struck out. But the ball got by catcher Riley Gerhardt who did not know where the ball was. By the time he found it Manock had reached second base. Isaac Loosmore tried to bunt him over. Gerhardt slipped when he went to make the throw, allowing Loosmore to reach. But Manock got caught too far off third and was caught in a run down and tagged out. Loosmore, however got to second. Brett Gilbertson reached on an error then stole second. After Taylor struckout Jonah Enochson, Sawyer Malme came up with two out and two on. He would hit a ground ball to second, but it bounced of Easton Hesch’s knee, allowing Mamle to reach and Loosemore to score the winning run.
Taylor pitched well in the loss. He allowed four hits and the one unearned run in 6 2/3 innings. He did not walk a batter and struck out five.
Bryce Schmidt, not to be outdone, allowed two hits in seven innings. He walked two and fanned seven.
Avery Bennefeld and Riley Gerhardt had the hits for Valley City, who fall to 6-4 in the Region.
In game two, pinch runner Nick Bronson scored on Hunter Wamre’s long single over a drawn in outfield in the bottom of the fifth inning lifting Wahpeton to a 4-3 win.
Valley City tied it in the top of the inning when Cayden Lloyd scored on a wild pitch.
Wahpeton took a brief 3-2 lead when Jake Uhlrich stole home in the fourth.
Valley City tied the game at two with Jacob Johnson’s two run triple.
Wahpeton scored one in the first when Issac Loosemore was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded. They added another run in the second on Dawson Hofman’s sacrifice fly.
With the two loses, Valley City os 9-13-1 overall and 6-4 in the East Region. Wahpeton improves to 3-3 in the region and 9-14 overall.
Valley City is right back at it Tuesday night when West Fargo comes to Charlie Brown Field for a doubleheader at 5:30. Coverage on 1490AM KOVC/96.3 FM and newsdakota.com starts at 5:15.