The Devils Lake Storm A 18U (11-5) faced off against the Fargo Post 2 Jets (8-7) in a Class A Legion doubleheader on Thursday, June 25, at DLYA Field. The Storm won both games, 4-3 and 6-4.
In the first game, Fargo got on the board in the first inning with three runs, propelled by singles from Andrew Perreault and Skyler Burkhardt. After a scoreless second inning, Mason Palmer singled on a ground ball to right field in the bottom of the third, driving in Devils Lake’s first run of the game for a 3-1 score.
In the bottom of the fourth, Will Heilman scored on an error by the Jets defense, and Brody Rainsberry ran in for another after a wild pitch to tie the game at three. The fifth and sixth innings were scoreless, but in the bottom of the seventh, Hunter Remmick hit a fly ball to right field for a single to drive in the game-winning run.
Ben Larson started on the mound for the Storm, allowing seven hits and three runs over six innings, striking out three and walking three. Drew Hovland took the loss for the Jets, pitching for over three innings and giving up three runs (two earned) on two hits, striking out one and walking five.
Devils Lake head coach Eric Nygaard said, “We had to kind of resort to the small game, and you know, a couple of bunts and steals. We got to get better, especially against pitching … their fastballs are getting past us.”
The second game began with the Storm piling up three runs in the bottom of the first. Mason Palmer singled to drive in two runs and Will Heilman grounded out to drive in one run. Both teams added one run each in the second inning for a 4-1 score. After a scoreless third inning, Devils Lake and Fargo yet again scored one run each in the bottom of the fourth.
The Jets added one in the top of the fifth after Andrew Perreault hit a sacrifice fly to drive in a run. In the bottom of the sixth, Ben Brodina hit an out to left field to drive in a run for a 6-3 Storm lead. Fargo attempted to come back in the top of the seventh, but only scored one run, losing the game 6-4.
Cayden McCarthy won the game for Devils Lake, allowing four hits and four runs over six innings, striking out three and walking six. Finn Bergseth started for Fargo, going for over three innings and surrendering five runs (four earned) on three hits, striking out five and walking four.
Nygaard complimented McCarthy’s game but added that there were areas in which the team can improve. “He threw well,” he said, “he threw until the seventh, and Max Palmer came in, but again, offensively, we just didn’t do enough.”
The Devils Lake Storm A 18U will face off against the Kindred Post 117 Vikings A on Tuesday, June 30, in another home doubleheader at DLYA Field.