The Devils Lake Storm A 18U (9-5, 4-0) faced off against the Fargo Post 400 Comets (7-14, 0-10) in a Class A Legion doubleheader on Wednesday, June 24, at DLYA Field. The Storm won both games, 4-0 and 6-1, thanks to strong pitching from Will Heilman and Tayven Wiberg.
In the first game, Devils Lake got on the board first in the bottom of the third after Taydon Triepke hit a sacrifice fly, scoring one run. In the bottom of the fourth, Ben Larson hit a pop fly that resulted in an error caused by the Fargo infield, driving in two runs. In the bottom of the fifth, Ben Larson hit a sacrifice fly to left field, driving in one run. The sixth inning and top of the seventh were scoreless, resulting in a 4-0 win by the Storm.
Will Heilman pitched all seven innings for Devils Lake. In a dominant performance on the mound, he allowed zero runs and just two hits, striking out seven and walking one. “I just started every batter off with a first pitch strike,” Heilman said about his strategy, “and then let them hit later in the count and let the defense work.”
“(Heilman) really kind of settled down … and started mixing his pitches,” Devils Lake head coach Eric Nygaard said about Heilman. “I think we chose three pitches for him, fastball change up in his curveballs, so that was nice to see.”
Ben Peterson took the loss for the Comets, allowing four runs (one earned) on four hits, striking out one and walking two.
The second game was also triumphant for the Storm. They scored first in the bottom of the third after Hunter Remmick doubled to center field, driving in two runs. Ben Larson slammed a solo home run to left field to start the bottom of the fourth, and an error by the Comets infield drove in another run for a 4-0 score.
In the bottom of the fifth, Mason Palmer blasted a triple down center field and scored after Hunter Remmick doubled on a line drive to right field. Ben Larson grounded out to drive in another run for a 6-0 score. Fargo scored their lone run of the night in the top of the sixth, after Thomas Koterba singled on a fly ball to left field.
Tayven Wiberg earned the win for the Storm, surrendering four hits and one run in his six innings on the mound, striking out eight and walking one. “I’m just trying to mix up pitches,” Wiberg said, “get them off balance, and then let the defense do the work behind me.”
“I don’t think he gave up his first hit until the fourth inning,” Nygaard said about Wiberg. “Excellent pitching performance today.”
Ty Thingvold started for the Comets, going five innings, allowing six runs (five earned) on seven hits, striking out three and walking three.
The Devils Lake Storm A 18U will resume action on Thursday, June 25, in a home doubleheader against the Fargo Post 2 Jets at DLYA Field.