JAMESTOWN, N.D. (NewsDakota.com) – The Valley City Hi-Liners began their hopes of bringing a state championship to the town of Valley City. They would go into the tournament as the #4 seed from the East and would be matched up against the defending state champions, and the #1 seed from the West, Dickinson High School. The Hi-Liners would drop their opening game of the state tournament to Dickinson, 11-1 in 5 innings.

Dickinson would get an early run in the home half of the first inning to take a 1-0 lead. The Midgets would then add 3 more runs in the bottom of the second inning. The big hit in the inning came from the bat of Reese Hauck, who would drive in a pair of runs with a double and Dickinson took a 4-0 lead going into the top of the 3rd inning. The only bright spot for the Hi-Liners offense on Thursday came from shortstop Kinlee Sufficool, who would take a 1-2 pitch way out to left over the fence for the solo home run and make it a 4-1 Dickinson lead. However, that would be it for the Valley City offense on the day. Dickinson would add a pair of runs in the 3rd inning to go up 6-1. Then the defending state champs flexed their muscle and scored 5 runs in the bottom of the 4th inning to go up 11-1. Dickinson would get an RBI double from Reese Houck, and RBI triple from Kali Kubas, and an RBI single from Ava Jahner in the home half of the 4th. This would put the pressure on Valley City in the top of the 5th. The Hi-Liners would have to score at least one run to keep the game going, as per the rules if it is a 10-run ball game after 5 innings the game is called. Valley City would get a lead off single from Dylann Diegel who would then advance to 2nd on a fielders choice resulting in Hadley Thoreson being safe at 1st. However with a pair of runners on and only 1 out, Dickinson pitcher Hope Fath would fan the next 2 Hi-Liner batters to end the game, and give Dickinson the 11-1 win and the chance for them to defend their title.

The story of the game has to be Dickinson starting pitcher Hope Fath. The right hander would go all 5 innings, giving up just 1 run on 3 hits and striking out 12 Hi-Liner batters.

Next up for the Hi-Liners, they will play in the loser’s side of the bracket on Friday at Trapper Field once again in Jamestown. They will face the West Fargo Packers. First pitch is scheduled for 1:00PM, and you can hear the call of the game on am1490/96.3FM (KOVC), streamed online at NewsDakota.com, or on the KOVC app.