VALLEY CITY, N.D. (NewsDakota.com) – In their first game since June 30th, the Valley City Saints amateur baseball team didn’t miss a beat. Behind seven shutout innings by David Whitaker and a bases clearing double by Seth Soderholm in the 3rd inning, the Saints extended their win streak to eight games as they shut out the Fargo Mets 7-0 on Sunday evening at Charlie Brown Memorial Field.
Valley City appeared to get an early two-out rally going in the bottom of the 1st inning as A.J. Casario singled. Then Dustin Mertz followed with a double to the left field fence, but a good relay from the outfield by the Mets nabbed Casario at the plate as he tried to score from 1st to end the inning.
The Saints were not deterred as they would finally strike with four runs in the 3rd. After Whitaker struck out to lead off the inning, Grady Karges singled then stole 2nd. Then Andrew Schaan reached 1st when the shortstop booted a routine groundball. Jake Miller then walked to load the bases. After Casario struck out looking for the second out, Mertz would draw a bases loaded walk scoring Karges. Soderholm then launched a screaming line drive double scoring three runs that was a foot from being a grand slam to break the game open.
With Whitaker continuing to subdue the Mets bats, the Saints extended their lead even more in the 5th inning. Schaan and Miller would each draw one out walks to set up Casario, who proceeded to single to right to drive in Schaan and chase Mets starter Dan Lyons. Valley City native Tom Paulson came in relief and the Saints would continue their 5th inning onslaught. With Mertz up to bat, pinch runner Gavin Wright stole 2nd base. Then Mertz drove Miller in with a groundout to short for his second RBI of the game. Wright would score to make it 7-0 when Soderholm reached on an error by the 3rd baseman on a dribbler down the 3rd base line that went under the glove. The Saints had a chance to turn the game into a rout, but left the bases loaded to end the inning and conclude the scoring.
Whitaker picked up the win on the mound for the Saints with 7 innings of three hit ball as Whitaker didn’t walk a batter and struck out 11 Met hitters. Soderholm pitched a scoreless 8th while Reed Butz pitched a scoreless 9th. Saints pitching only allowed six baserunners in the game and did not allow a runner past second base.
Casario led the offense for the Saints with a 3-for-4 day. Casario’s batting average for the season now sits at .455 (15-for-35). Soderholm went 2-for-4 with 3 RBI giving him a team leading 13 on the season. Butz also collected two hits for the Saints while Mertz, Karges, and Cal Fougner each had one hit a piece.
Lyons took the loss for the Mets going 4.1 innings giving up seven runs (two earned) on seven hits, walking four and striking out four. Paulson pitched 3.2 shutout innings only giving up three hits in relief. The Mets offense was led by Tony Zajac, who doubled in the 3rd inning while Tom Lindgren, Isaac Olson, and Paulson each had a single a piece.
As with every Sunday home game, it was Kids Day at the ballpark. As part of the postgame festivities, the kids got to run the bases and each kid got a baseball to take home as well. After the kids ran the bases, Kaleb Olsen was selected as the Kid of the Game and got a picture wearing the Saints swag chain.
The Saints now sit at 11-3 on the season and will be back in action on Wednesday night as they hit the road to take on the Jamestown Elks at Jack Brown Stadium in Jamestown. First pitch is at 7:00 PM. This game could be a state championship preview as the Saints and Elks have split their two meetings this season. The Elks winning the first matchup back on May 30th 4-1 at the Jack Brown Invitational in Jamestown while the Saints won the second meeting in Valley City 3-2 on June 23rd.
The next Saints home game will take place next Sunday, July 18th as the Saints will host the Mayville Red Caps at 5:00 PM. Along with Sunday Kids Day, it’ll also be J&S Marketing Night.