DICKINSON, ND – The Valley City Blues 12U baseball team etched their names in the history books last weekend, clinching the ND Cal Ripken 12U AA State Championship in Dickinson. The victory capped a remarkable season for the Blues, who finished with a 28-8-1 record, including an unbeaten 21-0-1 mark against AA competition.
Dominant Tournament Run
The Blues stormed through pool play with a perfect 2-0 record, earning the top seed and a first-round bye in the seven-team championship bracket. In the semifinal against Dickinson, the Blues clung to a 4-3 lead heading into the bottom of the 5th inning. The Blues erupted for five runs and held Dickinson to a single run in the 6th, securing a 9-4 victory.
The championship game against the Bismarck Americans was a classic pitchers’ duel and defensive battle. Bismarck struck first, taking a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the 1st after the Blues stranded leadoff hitter Riley Roelfsema on third and two-spot hitter Gavin Wiebe on second, both reaching base with singles. The Blues responded in the 2nd inning when Riggs Kasowski led off with a single and scored on a double by Jack Goven, who then crossed the plate on a double by Brekken Thornton, giving Valley City a 2-1 lead.
Both teams’ defenses and pitchers locked in, holding the scoreline through the 3rd, 4th, and 5th innings. In the top of the 6th, Mason Lueck sparked a rally with a leadoff single, advanced to third on a Thomas Potts groundout, and scored on a fielder’s choice by Kasowski, adding a crucial insurance run (3-1). Garet Goven, who started the game on the mound, sealed the championship by shutting out Bismarck in the bottom of the 6th.
Standout Performances
Garet Goven was a force on the mound, delivering a complete-game masterpiece in the final, allowing just one run on three hits and one walk while striking out eight. Across the tournament, Goven pitched 10 innings, surrendering only one run and fanning 15 batters. The Blues’ pitching staff was bolstered by Riley Roelfsema (4.1 innings, 2 hits, 1 ER, 6 K), Gavin Wiebe (4 innings, 4 hits, 2 ER, 3 K), and Paetyn Lahlum (1.1 innings, 0 hits, 0 ER).
Offensively, Roelfsema (8-for-12) and Wiebe (7-for-12) led the charge, combining for 15 hits. Mason Lueck (4 for-10) and Riggs Kasowski (4-for-11) each contributed four hits, while Thomas Potts (3-for-10), Garet Goven (2 hits), Brekken Thornton (1 hit), and Jack Goven (1 hit) added to the effort. Defensively, the Blues were nearly flawless, committing just four errors across their four tournament games.
A Season to Remember
The Blues’ championship run capped a dominant season, finishing with a .324 team batting average, a 2.97 ERA, and a .950 fielding percentage. Their only blemish against AA teams was a tie, underscoring their consistency. A notable loss came on June 9, 2025, falling 5-6 to the Fargo Little League All-Stars, a team now 2-0 in the Little League Midwest Regional and vying for a Little League World Series berth.
Legacy and Future
For several Blues players, this championship marks the culmination of illustrious careers. Veterans Riley Roelfsema, Gavin Wiebe, Garet Goven, and Braeden Schulz close their Blues tenures with three state titles (11U in 2023, 12U in 2024, and 12U in 2025). Brekken Thornton and Cody Svenningsen earned two titles (11U in 2023 and 12U in 2025). Looking ahead, six 11-year-old players—Mason Lueck, Thomas Potts, Riggs Kasowski, Jack Goven, Paetyn Lahlum, and Conley Bulow—will return in 2026 to defend the Blues’ crown.
The Valley City Blues 12U were coached by Josh Kasowski, Jeremy Wiebe, Chad Lueck, and Mark Potts.