MANDAN, N.D. — The Valley City Post 60 Royals put together one of their most complete days of baseball this season, sweeping the Mandan A’s in a road doubleheader Tuesday.

Game One: Valley City 6, Mandan 1
James Schwehr continued his stellar stretch on the mound, holding Mandan to just one run on five hits in a complete game effort. After giving up a run in the first inning, Schwehr settled in and threw six straight scoreless frames to lead the Royals.

Early offensive struggles plagued Valley City, as they stranded multiple runners in scoring position during the first four innings. But the bats came alive in the fifth, with six straight Royals reaching base to spark a three-run rally and give them a 3-1 lead.

In the sixth, a string of base hits combined with several Mandan miscues allowed Valley City to tack on three more insurance runs, pushing the lead to 6-1. Schwehr took care of the rest, closing the door and earning the win.

Game Two: Valley City 7, Mandan 2
A pitcher’s duel opened the nightcap as Valley City’s Bryson Heck went toe-to-toe with Mandan ace Miken Brahos. Both starters cruised through the first two innings before the Royals broke through in the third.

Luke Praska started the rally with a one-out walk, and Heck followed with a sharply hit double down the line to open the scoring. Corbyn Powell singled to bring home Heck, and Andrew Sykora later delivered the big blow with a two-run single to make it 5-0.

Mandan responded in the bottom half, loading the bases with no outs and scoring two runs on a single by Zach Weiler. However, Valley City limited the damage thanks to a heads-up defensive play that resulted in a key out during a rundown between second and third.

Heck dominated from there, finishing with 11 strikeouts against just one walk over seven innings. The Royals added two more runs in the sixth for insurance, and Heck sealed the 7-2 win with a clean seventh, recording two strikeouts and a groundout to end it.

With the sweep, Valley City (10-3) will look to keep the momentum going when they host the Minot Metros on Wednesday, July 2. First pitch is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.