VALLEY CITY, N.D. (NewsDakota.com) – Avery Bennefeld set the tone in the top of the first inning when he gapped a Connor Hoyt pitch to left center field circled the bases for a lead off triple. Two batters later he came in to score and Valley City jumped out to an early lead but had to hold on for a 7-4 win over the Jamestown Eagles in the opening round of the 2020 Senior Babe Ruth Class A State Baseball Tournament Tuesday night at Charlie Brown Field.
After Bennefeld’s three bagger, Easton Hesch popped out but Jacob Johnson singled to left to bring in Bennefeld to give the Royals a 1-0. The Royals would eventually load the bases but could not push across another run in the inning.
The Royals would add four in the top of the third. Braxton Jorissen, Corey Nelson and Bennefeld all drove in runs in the inning and one scored on an error.
The Eagles would get a run back in the fourth when Chris Erickson started the inning off with a triple, then scored on Jacoby Nold’s sacrifice fly to make it 5-1.
Valley City added single runs in the fifth on Easton Hesch’srbi single and the sixth on an error.
But the Eagles made it close scoring three in the bottom of the seventh after one was out, Jeremy Williams singled, and Connor Hoyt doubled. Williams would score on a wild pitch to make it 7-2. Chris Erickson drove in Hoyt with a bases loaded walk as Royal reliever Corey Nelson walked three straight Eagles. Braxton Jorissen came in with the bases loaded and one out and Jamestown down 7-3. He would strike out Ty Monson looking. On an 0-2 pitch, Mason Lunzman flared one down the left field line for an rbi single to cut the lead to 7-4. But Nolan Nenow would fly out to Grady Karges in to end the game with the tying run at first.
Jacob Johnson got the win. He allowed just one earned run on five hits over 4 1/3 innings. He did not walk a batter and struck out eight. He was also, 3 for 4 at the plate with an rbi and a run scored. Corey Nelson was 2 for 4 with an rbi. Six other Royals had at least one hit.
Royals Head Coach Chase Carpenter says everyone in the dugout was locked in tonight.
Jeremy Williams, Connor Hoyt and Mason Lunzman all had two hits for the Eagles who fall to 24-6 and will play Devils Lake in a loser out game Wednesday afternoon at 1pm. That game can be heard on Jamestown 107.1 and video streamed live on newsdakota.com with the pregame at 12:45.
Valley City moves to 22-12 on the season. Coach Carpenter says getting that first one means more than just 1-0 in the tournament.
Valley City will play the Bismarck Capitals Wednesday at 7pm in a winners bracket game. That game can be heard on 1490 AM /96.3 FM KOVC and seen on newsdakota.com starting with the pregame at 6:45.
Elsewhere at the State Tournament, day 1.
Cullen Pellet, Matt Heupel and Mason Hoff combined ona no-hitter for the West Fargo Vets in a 9-0 win over Minot.
Kole Menz was 2 for 4 with 3 rbi. Casey Reber was 2 for 4 with two rbi and 2 runs scored.. Mason Hoff was 1 for 2 with an rbi and a run scored.
The Fargo Jets advanced with a three run first on the way to a 6-4 win over Bismarck Reps.
Andrew Fisher’s grand slam capped a five run first inning lead the Bismarck Caps to a 13-1 win over Devils Lake.
Fisher was 3 for 5 with seven rbi and two runs scored. Eight of the nine starters had at least one hit as the Caps pounded out 17 for the game.
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SCHEDULE FOR WEDNESDAY DAY 2
10AM – Minot vs. Bismarck Reps (Loser out) (video stream at https://newsdakota.com)
1PM – Devils Lake vs. Jamestown (Loser out) ( Radio – Jamestown 107.1 Video – https://newsdakota.com)
4PM – Westy Fargo Vets vs. Fargo Jets (Radio – Thunder County 106.1, Video – https://newsdakota.com)
7PM – Bismarck Caps vs. Valley City (Radio – 1490 AM/96.3 FM KOVC, Video – https://newsdakota.com)