DEVILS LAKE, N.D. – The Devils Lake Storm A 18U (7-5) and the Minot Vistas (12-7) faced off against each other in a doubleheader at DLYA Field on Monday, June 22. The Vistas won the first game 7-6, while the Storm took the second game 7-4.
In the first game, both teams scored one run each in the first inning, and Minot pulled
ahead to create a 5-2 score in the third inning, with Jace Price’s double to left field driving in three runs. Devils Lake scored one run in the bottom of the fourth, and after a scoreless fifth inning, the Vistas added two more in the top of the sixth for a score of 7-3. The Storm attempted a comeback in the bottom of the seventh, with singles from Ben Larson and Tayden Tripke and a ground out by Fausten Olson driving in three runs, only to fall short 7-6.
Kayden Danielson earned the win for Minot, allowing three hits and two runs over two innings, striking out one and walking four. Ben Brodina started on the mound for Devils Lake, going four innings and giving up five runs on four hits, striking out three and walking three.
Despite the loss, the Storm accumulated more hits, 10, than the Vistas, who had eight. When asked about the first game, Storm head coach Eric Nygaard said, “We truly had one bad inning, where they got some base runners, and they capitalized on some pretty key hits.”
In the second game, Minot got on the board first with Drew Jordan’s ground out, scoring one run. Devils Lake took the lead in the bottom of the first after Will Heilman singled to the left side of the infield, and the Vistas committed an error, resulting in a 2-1 score. In the top of the second, Jace Price singled to tie the game at two. A single by Brock Thompson in the top of the third gave Minot the lead, 3-2. Ben Brodina grounded out to help Devils Lake tie the game at
three in the bottom of the fourth. A single by Ben Larson gave the Storm the lead, 4-3, in the bottom of the fifth. Devils Lake increased their lead with three runs in the bottom of the sixth, winning the game 7-4.
Brody Rainsberry started all seven innings for the Storm, allowing nine hits and four runs (two earned) over seven innings, striking out eight and walking none. “I was really just trying to mix it up,” Rainsberry said about his performance, “throwing a little bit off speed and fastballs and hitting my locations.”
Brody Mueller started for Minot, giving up three hits and two runs over two innings, striking out two and walking one. Nick Thomas took the loss for the Vistas, going for three innings and giving up two runs (one earned) on four hits, striking out two and walking two.
Nygaard said the Storm “executed a little bit better” in the second game. “We left a lot of runners on base in both games, but overall, we competed with these guys.”
The Devils Lake Storm A 18U will continue their action at home on Wednesday, June 24, in a doubleheader against Fargo Post 400.