BISMARCK, N.D. — For the third straight game in the Class A West Region Tournament, the Valley City Post 60 Royals battled back from an early deficit — this time capturing the West Region Championship with a 7-4 victory over the Bismarck Representatives on Saturday. The win marks Valley City’s 14th straight and secures the No. 1 seed out of the West for next week’s State Tournament in Casselton.

James Schwehr worked around early trouble, stranding a leadoff single and a walk in the top of the first thanks to back-to-back strikeouts and a diving snag at third by Jack Samuelson to end the threat. Bismarck starter Karter Pearson matched Schwehr early, retiring the top of the Royals’ order in order to keep the game scoreless.

The Representatives struck first in the second, capitalizing on a throwing error and a balk to take a 2-0 lead. But Valley City answered in the bottom half with a two-out rally. Adam Shanenko, Bryson Heck, Corbyn Powell, Trevor Fetsch, and Jack Samuelson all reached base, combining for four runs to swing momentum back in Valley City’s favor at 4-2.

The Royals tacked on another in the third following a misplayed sacrifice bunt by Bismarck, pushing the lead to 5-2. The Reps continued to put pressure on Schwehr, getting the leadoff man aboard in four of his five innings. In the fifth, they loaded the bases with no outs and trimmed the deficit to one on an errant throw during a potential double play.

With the game tightening, Valley City turned to Will Schwehr for a six-out save, and the super senior delivered. He worked a perfect sixth inning to stabilize the Royals before the offense gave him some insurance. Shanenko opened the bottom of the frame with his second single of the game, and after another error on a sacrifice bunt, Powell came through with an RBI single. A second Bismarck miscue in the inning allowed another run to score, extending the Royals’ lead to 7-4.

The Representatives brought the tying run to the plate in the seventh, putting runners at the corners with one out. But Valley City turned their third inning-ending double play of the game to slam the door on the title.

With the win, Valley City improves to 21-3 and will open the Class A State Legion Baseball Tournament against host Casselton Haymakers. First pitch is set for later this week in Casselton.

Broadcast Information:
Follow the Post 60 Royals’ entire state tournament run on 1490 AM / 96.3 FM KOVC and streaming online at NewsDakota.com.