VALLEY CITY, N.D. — The Valley City Post 60 Royals continued their winning ways Wednesday night, sweeping the Minot Metros in a doubleheader that featured another stellar outing on the mound in game one and a resilient offensive effort in game two.
Game One: Valley City 4, Minot 2
Valley City rode another strong combined pitching performance to a 4-2 win in the opener. Luke Praska started and threw six innings of two-run ball, striking out six and working around a bases-loaded jam in the fifth. James Schwehr closed the door with a perfect seventh inning in relief to earn the save.
The Royals got to work early at the plate. In the bottom of the first, Corbyn Powell drew a walk and Trevor Fetsch followed with a single to set the table. Jack Samuelson and Parker Roelfsema each brought home a run with productive groundouts to give Valley City a 2-0 lead.
In the fourth, Will Schwehr delivered the biggest hit of the game — a two-run double off the wall — to extend the lead to 4-0.
Minot threatened in the fifth with two runs and the bases loaded with nobody out, but Praska escaped the jam with a strikeout and two soft outs to preserve the lead. Schwehr took over in the seventh, retiring all three batters he faced to seal the win.
Game Two: Valley City 8, Minot 5
The nightcap saw Valley City’s early-season strengths—pitching and defense—momentarily disappear. The Royals committed six errors, and starter Bryson Heck struggled to find his rhythm. Minot took full advantage, scoring four runs in the third inning off a string of defensive miscues, bloop singles, and a bases-clearing triple to jump ahead 4-0.
The Royals responded in the bottom of the third with a two-run double by Jack Samuelson, cutting the deficit in half. James Schwehr entered in relief in the fifth and delivered another scoreless frame to keep Post 60 within striking distance.
Valley City seized momentum in the bottom of the fifth, with the first five batters reaching safely. Singles by Roelfsema and others, combined with a Minot throwing error, allowed the Royals to take a 5-4 lead. A sacrifice fly from Schwehr pushed the lead to 6-4.
After Minot trimmed the lead to one in the top of the sixth, Roelfsema struck again in the bottom half, driving in an insurance run with a two-out single before stealing second and allowing Samuelson to score from third to make it 8-5.
Minot rallied with two outs in the seventh, putting the tying run at the plate, but a flyout to Leighton Hendrickson ended the game. Schwehr picked up the win in relief, capping off a strong night on the mound.
The Royals (12-3) return to action Monday, July 7th, against the Watford City Walleye. First pitch is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. and can be heard on 1490 AM/96.3 FM KOVC or online at NewsDakota.com.