Victory slipped through the fingers of Valley City in game one against Casselton as the Haymakers rallied for three runs in the top of the sixth to tie the game before staging a two out rally in the seventh to steal a 4-3 win away from Valley City.

Bryson Heck through five was spectacular on the mound allowing no runs and limiting the walks allowed to only one. Unfortunately in the sixth the walks, HBPs, and errors would make their unwelcome appearance. A fielding error allowed the first runner on in the first for the Haymakers before a walk and then a HBP allowed the bases to be juiced with no outs. Heck would come back with a critical strikeout, but a jamshot single in no mans land and a perfectly executed sac bunt would tie the game.

Heck would get the first two batters out in the second but couldn’t finish off Casselton who drew back to back walks to chase Heck from the game. Carver Pederson would come in for relief and gave up a slow roller up the middle that pushed across the winning run.

For Valley City Jack Samuelson after dealing with nagging shoulder issues would mark his return to first base in a big way as he hit a towering two run shot in the 4 that gave the Royals a 3-0 lead. THe first run of the game came in the second after a bit of aggressive baserunning by the Royals saw Robert Fischer come in after Pederson gave himself up in a rundown.

In game two the game would get off to an ominous start as Casselton pushed across four runs in the top of the first. But after that Carver Pederson would only allow one more run through six innings keeping his team in contention. The bats would wake up a little too late as the Royals put the tying run on-base with two outs before a running catch in the left center gap would end the Valley City rally with a 5-2 loss.