ENDERLIN, N.D. (NewsDakota.com) – For the second consecutive year, Enderlin/Maple Valley’s (EMV) baseball team is headed to the state tournament. The Falcons defeated LaMoure-Litchville/Marion (LLM) in a best of three championship series last night from Hendrickson  Field.

EMV’s lineup combined for 24 runs in doubleheader victory over LLM. Here’s how each game unfolded:

Game 1: EMV 10, LLM 3

LLM took the lead six pitches into the game as Alex Klever blasted a home run over the right-center wall to give the Loboes a 1-0 lead after one inning. The lead was added on to in the 3rd when Shay Ness delivered and RBI single to score Klever and make it a 2-0 game.

In the bottom of the 3rd, EMV would flip the game over with one swing of the bat. Jacob Johnson deposited a grand slam over the right-center wall. The Falcons grabbed the lead and held onto it for the remainder of the game. EMV tacked on another run on a wild pitch in the 5th to make it 5-2.

In the top of the 6th, LLM scratched across a run to make it a two-run ballgame, but that was as close as they would get. In the bottom half, EMV exploded for five runs on back-to-back RBI doubles from Colten Sorenson and Brandon Utke. Jacob Johnson also notched his 5th RBI of the game on a base hit, and EMV broke the game open 10-3.

 

Game 2: EMV 14, LLM 4

The first two innings in game two saw 37 plate plate appearances combined. Both offenses were potent early. LLM took advantage of a pair of hit batters to score twice in the first. EMV answered by sending ten batters to the plate and scored five times capped off by a two run single from Garrett Finger.

Down three, LLM’s starting pitcher Mac Bierman delivered a two-out two-run home run to make it a one run game in the 2nd. Then, similar to game one, EMV pulled away with a big inning. The Falcons scored 8 times in the 2nd and Finger continued his hot night at the plate with a two run homer. Chance Bye added a couple RBI hits, Jade Pulkrabek, Brandon Utke and Dakota Mark also added RBI hits.

After the dust settled, it was 13-4 in favor of EMV. EMV’s starting pitcher Brandon Utke started the game, after closing out game one, and he settled in after the first two innings. He would go the distance and finish the doubleheader with 112 pitches combined.

The game ended after six innings when Lain Combs had an RBI single to 10-run LLM and put the Falcons into the state tournament for the second consecutive year.

This year’s state tournament begins Thursday, May 30th from Newman Outdoor Field in Fargo.