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(NewsDakota.com)–Wahpeton dominated and Grafton survived to advance in winner’s bracket play at the state Class “B” American Legion baseball tournament Thursday, while Velva and Lisbon survived the first round of loser-out play.
Wahpeton 9, Washburn 0
Cole Gilles lined a bases-loaded, two-out double to left in the bottom of the first inning to give Wahpeton all the runs they would need in the quarterfinals. His shot came after his team loaded the bases with nobody out, then saw their cleanup man pop out and their five-hitter fan, threatening to undo the rally.
Gilles himself was frozen on a two-strike pitch millimeters outside the zone before the rope to left cleared the bases for a 3-0 lead.
That was enough for starter Tyler Grippentrog, who threw a complete-game two-hitter, striking out seven, allowing just four base-runners , none of which advanced past first.
Preston Kath added an RBI double in a three-run fifth for Wahpeton. Jeremy Bontjes was 2-2 with a double, a bunt for a hit, two walks and three runs.
Grafton 10, LaMoure 7
This battle of two titans was all that was expected with a little added flair.
Grafton took an early 4-0 lead, after belting out several hits against LaMoure’s Zach Stemen. However, Post 19 was able to hang a five spot on Post 41 to take a 5-4 lead through the seventh inning.
Grafton had the bases loaded with two men out down by the same score, and a couple of tough errors on LaMoure on back to back plays allowed Grafton to tie and take the lead for good. Six total runs scored in the inning.
LaMoure scored a couple more in the bottom half of the frame, but stranded the tying run in scoring position. Sam Heuchert earned the win for Post 41 going two and two thirds innings, while Zach Stemen took the lost for Post 19; going the complete seven innings and striking out seven.
In earlier play, Velva eliminated Casselton 4-3, while Lisbon shook off an extra-inning loss to Grafton Wednesday and key injuries for a 5-4 win over Garrison.
Friday will see Lisbon battle Washburn for survival at 2:30 p.m., followed by Velva facing LaMoure to stay alive at 5:00 p.m. Wahpeton then meets Grafton at 7:30 p.m in the semi-finals, with the winner advancing to Sunday’s championship series.
The final two games will be heard on Sunny 98.3 FM, along with KDDR AM 1220 and KDAK AM 1600.