The Valley City Hi-Liners utilized opportunistic hitting, defense, and base running to outscore the Wahpeton Huskies 4-0 over the last three innings to pick up the 6-2 opening-day win.

Hi-Liners starting pitcher Ethan Miller was in trouble in the first inning after the first three Huskie batters reached base, stapling the visitors an early 2-0 lead with no outs and a runner at third base. But Miller navigated the trouble, recording a couple of strikeouts that helped keep the deficit at two runs. The Hi-Liners responded with some opportunistic base running in the bottom half of the first, as Miller drew a Walk and Corbyn Powell reached base after a fielding error by the pitcher setting up runners and second and third with one out.

A sharp groundball by Will Schwehr resulted in a fielder’s choice that drove in one run off a 6-3 putout, but after an ill-advised throw back to third base trying to double off Powell sailed over the third baseman’s head, the Hi-Liners were able to scratch across the tying run. After a chaotic start to the game, the scoring would be subdued for the next two and a half innings as Valley City navigated their way out of trouble with great defensive plays by Trevor Fetsch and Carver Pederson, as Wahpeton cruised with pitcher Cooper Klosterman striking out three of the next six batters.

In the bottom of the fourth, Corbyn Powell secured Valley City’s first hit of the game with a sharp single up the middle and reached second base after a passed ball. The Hi-Liners then utilized a bit of aggressive baserunning after a walk by Will Schwehr set up a double steal that forced an errant throw, which allowed Powell to jog home for the go-ahead run as the Hi-Liners took a 3-2 lead.

Ethan Miller’s day was done after the fourth inning, recording four strikeouts, two walks, and allowing two earned runs. Carver Pederson would immediately swing the momentum in favor of Valley City by striking out the side on ten pitches. The bottom half of the fifth would see the Hi-Liners push across two more runs off five hits, with Will Schwehr collecting two more RBIs.

After adding one more insurance run in the bottom half of the sixth inning, Valley City took the field in the seventh up 6-2 with an opportunity to close out the win. After recording a quick first two outs, the Huskies would reach base with their next two batters as a passed ball set up Wahpeton with runners at second and third with two outs. Pederson forced a slow bouncer back to the mound to end the game as he polished off a three-inning save, with Ethan Miller picking up the win after going four solid innings.

Valley City’s next game will be Tuesday, April 16th, at 5:00 PM at West Fargo High School.

 

Ivy Real Estate Group Player of the Game: Carver Pederson