Hi-Liners hold off Mustangs for EDC win
Valley City jumped out to a 7-0 lead after three innings, then had to hold off West Fargo Sheyenne's rally for a 7-5 win over the Mustangs in Eastern Dakota Conference baseball Thursday night in West Fargo.
The Hi-Liners struck first in the top of the second inning with three runs. With one out, Kai Kringlie singles to left then moves to second on a balk. Adam Bitz and Max Mehus hit backto-back infield singles to load the bases. Ethan Miller walks, scoring Kringlie. Then Gerhardt walked to score Bitz. Braxton Jorissen grounded to third, Mehus beat the throw to make it 3-0 Hi-Liners.
The Hi-Liners would add four more runs in the third. Devyn Thornton and Kringlie walked to start the inning. Courtesy runner Carver Pederson and Kringlie moved up a base on a passed ball. With one out, Mehus reached on an error to load the bases. With two out, Gerhardt was hit by a pitch, scoring Pederson. Jorissen reached on an error, scoring Kringlie and Mehus. After a walk to Broden Muske to reload the bases, Joe Cummings walked to score Gerhardt for a 7-0 Hi-Liner lead.
Sheyenne would start their comeback with two runs in the bottom of the fourth, both with two out. Konner Entz drove in two runs with a single to left to make it 7-2 Valley City.
Then with two outs in the fifth, Carter Ohleen scored on an error to make it 7-3. Tate Gustafson scored on an error to make it 7-4. Then Casey Clemenson drove in Cooper Borchardt with a single to center to cut the lead to 7-5. But that would be as close as the Mustangs would get.
In the bottom of the seventh, the Mustangs would bring the tying run to the plate. Brennan Haman doubled to lead off the seventh. He would reach third on a fly ball out by Borchardt. But a line out to pitcher Max Mehus ended the game giving the Hi-Liners the win. And it is the first conference loss for the Mustangs.
Ethan Miller and Kai Kringlie each had two hits for the Hi-Liners. Gavin Gerhardt, Adam Bitz and Max Mehus would each have one hit. Gerhardt drove in two runs. Miller, Braxton Jorissen and Joe Cummings each drove in one run. Kringlie and Mehus scored two runs apiece.
Devyn Thornton got the win. He went 4 2/3 innings. He allowed five hits and five unearned runs. He walked one and did not strike out anyone. Mehus picked up the save by going 2 1/3 shutout innings. He allowed three hits and retired seven of the last eight batters he faced.
Valley City is now 2-2 in the Eastern Dakota Conference and 3-3 overall.
Hi-Liners Sweep Bruins
Valley City scored 20 runs and rapped out 15 hits in eight innings to pick up a double header sweep of Fargo South in Eastern Dakota Conference Baseball Friday at Charlie Brown Field.
Game 1: Valley City 10, Fargo South 0 F/5 innings The Hi-Liners scored five runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to pick up a 10-0 win in game one of the doubleheader.
In the bottom of the first inning, the HiLiners scored twice on back to back singles by Joe Cummings and Devyn Thornton. After Ethan Miller and Gavin Gerhardt struckout to start the inning, Braxton Jorissen walked and Broden Muske reached on an error. Cummings singled to left to score pinch runner Carver Pederson and Thornton singled to left to bring in Muske. Courtesy runner Robert Fischer also tried to score on the play but was thrown out at the plate.
Kai Kringlie led off the second by reaching on an error, then two outs later came in to score on Gerhardt’s single to center to make it 3-0 home team.
The Hi-Liners scored two unearned runs in the third. Thornton scored on an error and Kringlie scored on Max Mehus’ sacrifice fly to center.
Valley City would score five unearned runs in the bottom of the fifth. Two runs scored on errors in the inning. Ethan Miller drove in a run with a bases loaded walk. Jorissen drove in a run with a single and Muske finished the game early with an rbi single to make the final 10-0.
The Hi-Liners had six hits from six different players. Gerhardt, Jorissen, Muske, Cummings, Thornton and Adam Bitz had the hits for Valley City. The Hi-Liners were helped out by six Bruin errors, five walks and two hit batters.
Mehus picked up the win on the mound allowing six hits in four shutout innings. He walked one and struck out four. Jorissen pitched a onetwo-three fifth.
Game 2: Valley City 10, Fargo South 0 F/3 innings
The Hi-Liners jumped out to a 9-0 lead after two innings picking up a 10-0 win in three innings in the nightcap.
Valley City broke things open with six runs in the second. With one out and a runner at third, the Hi-Liners had seven straight hits. Braxton Jorissen had an rbi double. Joe Cummings drove in two with a single to left. Kai Kringlie scored two runs with a double and Robert Fischer drove in the final run with an infield single.
The game ended early due to the ten run rule when Cummings doubled in Max Mehus with one out in the bottom of the third.
Cummings had two hits and drove in four runs to lead the Hi-Liners. Ethan Miller, Braxton Jorissen, Broden Muske, Carver Peder
son, Kai Kringlie, Adam Bitz and Robert Fischer had the other hits. Kringlie drove in two. Jorissen and Cummings each scored twice.
Fischer picked up the win allowing just one hit in two innings. He walked one and struck out one. Miller finished up with a strikeout and a double play to end the game.
Valley City improves to 3-2 in the Eastern Da
kota Conference and 5-3 overall. The Hi-Liners are scheduled to host Grand Forks Red River Tuesday night at 7pm and Charlie Brown Memorial Field.