VALLEY CITY, N.D. (NewsDakota.com) – The Valley City Post 60 Royals baseball club were coming off of a big road sweep on Tuesday as they returned home on Thursday to host Casselton Post 15.

The visitors came into Valley City and did exactly what they wanted to do, score runs in bunches early. Casselton would also get 5 strong innings on the mound from their starter on their way to the 10-2 victory.

First inning, Casselton would have the bases loaded with one out. Cooper Johnson would be the base runner on 3rd base and decided to try and steal home and as he was 3/4 of the way down the 3rd base line Kai Kringlie, the Valley City starter, threw the ball home but Post 15 batter Mason Bosse would do everything he could to bunt the ball in play to keep play moving, and on the bunt Kringlie would come off the mound to field and throw to first base, but the throw would go by first base and go all the way up against the fence, allowing all three base runners to come around and score giving Casselton the 3-0 lead. The second inning would see Casselton add to their lead.

This time the big hit would come from clean up hitter Tyler Cruchet as he would drive in a pair with a double. In all, Post 15 would score 5 times in the top half of the second inning. Casselton would then extend their lead to 10-0 by adding 2 more runs in the top half of the 4th inning. Valley City would have to score a run in the bottom of the 5th inning to keep the game alive. Carver Pederson would get on base with a 1-out walk and would then find himself on 3rd base after a fielding error would keep the inning alive for VC.

With Zach Sykora at the plate the Royals were down to their final out and strike. The next pitch would sail to the backstop allowing Pederson to run down to score and keep the game going, cutting the Casselton lead to 10-1. However, on this night that is all the offense Valley City could provide.

The story of this game has to be the starting pitcher for Casselton, Tyler Cruchet. He went 5-innings, giving up just 1 hit, 1 run while striking out 10 on his way to the win. He would also go 3/3 at the plate with a walk, 2 RBI’s and would score 3 runs. With the loss, Valley City’s record now stands at 7-4.

*Side note: The second game of this double header is unfinished, and at the time Valley City is in the lead at 6-0 in the bottom of the 5th inning.