Butz blanks Mets in Saints’ season opening win

Reed Butz struck out the first ten batters he faced and would not allow a hit until there were two outs in the sixth as the Valley City Saints came up with a 1-0 win over the Fargo Mets in the amatuer baseball season opener for both teams Sunday night at Charlie Brown Memorial Field.

Butz would end the game with 17 strikeouts, three walks and one hit allowed in seven innings of work. Former Valley State University Viking teammate William Hlady would pitch the two scoreless innings for the save. Hlady allowed one hit and had four strikeouts.

The Saints lone run came in the bottom of the third. With two outs, Andrew Schaan drew a walk. He would move to third on Carlos Turpo's double. When the throw got away from the Mets' second baseman, Schaan came in to make it 1-0.

Butz would make that lead hold up despite working out of a few jams. Butz would walk two of his three batters in the top of the fourth, but retired the Mets on three strike outs. Tom Lindgren got the first Mets hit with a two out single in the sixth. He would move to second on an errant pickoff attempt by Butz. Butz would uncork a wild pitch getting Lindgren to third. But he would strike out T.J. Hopkins to end the inning.

In the seventh, the Mets would get two runners on. Andrew Penney was hit by a pitch to start the inning, then with two out, a wild pitch and a walk would put runners at first and third. Butz would end the threat on a ground out to shortstop Davey Demeter.

Demeter had two of the Saints five hits. Gavin Wright, Carlos Turpo and Cal Fougner each had one hit.

Valley City will host the Ada Athletics Sunday afternoon for a doubleheader with game one set to start at 1pm at Charlie Brown Field.