The Valley City Hi-Liners finally snapped their eight-game losing skid as they outlasted the Grand Forks Central Knights 2-1 to pick up their second win of the season.

Valley City was led on the mound by Senior Ethan Miller, who saved his best pitching performance of the season for his last game at Charlie Brown Memorial Field. After both teams exchanged scoreless first innings, a leadoff double by the Knights followed by a wild pitch would set up Central to take the lead after a groundout to first base. That leadoff double would be one of only two hits Miller allowed in the game.

Valley City staged a comeback in the third inning, tying the game after Corbyn Powell’s two-out single drove in Miller, who had walked earlier in the inning. The Hi-Liners then seized the lead in the fourth, capitalizing on a walk and a pair of singles to drive in Will Schwehr, with Bodi Haglund delivering the RBI. From the fifth inning onwards, the Knights didn’t record any hits, as Miller’s dominance on the mound continued, walking only three batters and striking out nine in his seven innings of work.

The top of the seventh would see the Knights draw a lead-off walk to give them some life. But after a pop-out by Central’s Noah Morkve, the Knights would get caught gambling as Corbyn Powell threw out a stealing Jaxon Washburn for a big second out. The game appeared to be over after a 6-3 putout, but a late catcher interference call would give the Knights one last opportunity. But Miller would regroup and force a routine flyout to left field to end the ballgame as the Hi-Liners picked up their first win since April 9th.

The Hi-Liners will wrap up their regular season on Thursday against the Devils Lake Firebirds at 5:00 PM. The game can be heard on 1490 AM/ 96.3 FM KOVC.