OAKES, N.D. (NewsDakota.com) – Day one of the 2021 Class B Legion Baseball State Tournament is in the books and there was lots of great baseball played at Cummings Field in Oakes. The sky was hazy with smoke rolling through the area, but it was clear that the best of the best were in action Thursday.
GAME ONE
LaMoure 4
Velva 0
LaMoure got the day started with a fantastic performance from starting pitcher Anthony Hansen. He went a full seven innings while striking out seven batters and allowing only two hits and no runs with five walks. Hansen’s performance was excellent as he painted the corners flawlessly and executed every pitch to perfection. As for the bats, all but two batters got a hit for LaMoure. First baseman Landon Piehl lead the way going 2-3 with three RBI. Hansen helped his own cause with an RBI single in the sixth inning. Centerfielder Jace Hanson went 2-2 with two runs. Cleanup hitter and right-fielder Mac Bierman also had a good day at the plate going 2-3 with two runs and a double. Shortstop Corban Potts, left-fielder James Sandness, and second baseman Rory Gentzkow all had a double in the game as well. LaMoure moves on in the winner’s bracket and will take on Langdon at 4:00 p.m. tomorrow.
GAME TWO
Langdon 3
Garrison 1
In a battle of two good lefty pitchers, Langdon’s Tucker Welsh outlasted Garrison’s Jack Bright. Welsh started the game with five strikeouts in the first six outs. Garrison plated one run in the third inning after Welsh walked back-to-back hitters and gave up back-to-back singles. Markus Kingzett came on in the seventh to finish off the game with a save. Jack Romfo provided the big offense with a two-run homer in the fourth inning for Langdon. Earlier in that inning, Jackson Delvo stroked a double to right-center, but was gunned down at third base with a great throw and relay from Clay Bendrickson of Garrison. Tucker Welsh helped his own cause with a bloop single up the middle. Then Jack Romfo turned on a fastball from Jack Bright and cleared the fence about 12 feet inside the left-field foul pole. Langdon would add an insurance run in the sixth inning to seal the win. Langdon advances in the winner’s bracket to play LaMoure tomorrow at 4:00 p.m.
GAME THREE
Renville County 12
Carrington 2
In the third game of the opening day action, Renville County outscored Carrington Post 25 12-2 in six innings. Renville County starter Joe Savelkoul would throw an impressive four innings allowing only two runs on two hits striking out seven. Braxton Fitzsimmons came in for Renville County to pitch the fifth and sixth innings. He retired six straight hitters, striking out five of them. Hudson Schmitz didn’t get hit real hard too often but gave up three straight singles in the bottom of the first as Renville County went up 2-0 right away. Carrington would answer in the top of the first, scoring two runs on a wild pitch, but that would be the last runs of the day for Post 25, as Savelkoul was very solid on the hill, with Fitzsimmons closing it out. Corbin Hall went 3-3, and Brock Depute, Jalyn Derr and Stetson Helwig each adding two hits apiece for Renville County’s offense. With the win, Renville County moves on to play Oakes tomorrow night at 7:00 p.m.
GAME FOUR
Oakes 4
Mayville-Portland 3
In the final game, the contest absolutely deserved the primetime spot as the best was saved for last. This game had everything: great pitching, clutch hitting, great defense, bad defense and a full crowd on-hand to witness the display. Oakes is hosting the tournament, but they wanted to prove that they belong in the field and they certainly did that with their 4-3 opening-round win over the District 6 Champion Mayville-Portland Patriots. Oakes struck first with an RBI single from third baseman Howie Neustel to bring home shortstop Garret Meehl. After the Pats tied the game in the top of the second, Howie Neustel came through again in the bottom of the inning with a two-RBI single to make it 3-1. In the third inning, Mayville-Portland brought in their best pitcher Sawyer Satrom out of the bullpen and he made an immediate impact. He struck out five of the first six batters he faced which carried the momentum to the Patriots’ offense as they tied the game in the top of the fifth with a two-RBI single from the first baseman Jordan Evans. Just as it seemed like the narrative was shifting, Oakes’ catcher Joey Heim brought home Neustel from third on an error. Garret Meehl came in relief for starting pitcher Brady McKenna and held on to the one-run lead and picked up the two-inning save. McKenna pitched five innings, walked three, allowed five hits and two earned runs while striking out four. Meehl allowed just one walk, no hits, no runs in just two innings. Neustel finished 3-3 with three RBI and a run. Meehl also had a multi-hit day going 2-4 with a run. Designated hitter Bryley Haberman, centerfielder Alex Nelson and second baseman Conor Schall all had singles in the game as well. Oakes advances and will play again at 7:00 p.m. tomorrow against Renville County.
