VALLEY CITY,N.D. (NewsDakota.com) – After three innings of play it looked like it could be an old fashioned pitchers duel between Michael Hall of Kindred and Jacob Johnson of Valley City. No score, six hits and 10 strike outs between the two. But a big fourth by Kindred changed all that as the Vikings downed Valley City 11-2 Wednesday night in a state qualifying game in the Eastern Division American Legion Baseball Tournament at Charlie Brown Field.
Kindred scored eight runs in the fourth on five hits and were helped out by two Valley City errors. Trenton Duchscherer had an two-run single in the inning. Sawyer Rolland added a two-run double. The Vikings would add three more in the sixth inning.
Andy Freier led Kindred by going 2 for 4 with a run scored and two rbi. Oakley Dubord was 2 for 2 with two rbi. Jon Twedt was 2 for 4. Duchscherer and Sawyer Rolland had two rbi each.
Michael Hall pitched a solid game. In 6 1/3 innings, he allowed five hits, two unearned runs with a walk and 11 strikeouts.
Valley City avoided the shutout when Connor Drogen and Jacob Johnson both scored on a error by Kindred second basemen Logan Myers in the bottom of the sixth inning.
With the win, Kindred advances to play the Fargo Jets in a winners bracket game. But importantly, they both secured a spot in the state legion tournament next week in Bismarck.
Valley City falls to the loser out game and will play a state qualifying game tomorrow versus Grand Forks at 2:30. That game can be heard on AM 1490/96.3 FM KOVC and newsdakota.com. Coverage begins at 2:15pm
Day 2 results:
Grand Forks Blues 5, Casselton 1
Fargo Astros 7, West Fargo Aces 3
Fargo Jets 7, Devils Lake 1
Kindred 11, Valley City 2
Thursday’s Schedule
12:00pm – Fargo Astros vs. Devils Lake
2:30pm – Valley City vs. Grand Forks Blues
5:00pm – Kindred vs. Fargo Jets
7:30pm – VC/GF Blues winner vs. Astros/DL winner
(PHOTOS COURTESY OF JODY JOHNSON)
