DEVILS LAKE – The Devils Lake Storm B 18U (13-8) faced off against the Velva 39ers B (12-5) in a Legion baseball doubleheader on Thursday, July 2, at DLYA Field. The Storm won the first game 8-7 after stopping a comeback attempt by the 39ers in the seventh inning and took the second game with a 14-2 domination.
The first game began with Henley Driessen hitting a triple deep into right field in the bottom of the first, but was unable to make it home after a strikeout ended the inning. Velva got on the board first in the top of the second after singles by Tucker Wilson and Tuff Hanson drove in one run each for a 2-0 score. Devils Lake ended the top of the second after shortstop Riley Brenno-Quale caught a line drive and tossed the ball to second baseman Kitson Beck for a double play.
A quick three-and-out in the bottom of the second kept the Storm scoreless. They flipped the game on its head in the bottom of the third. Andrew Hammond hit a sacrifice fly to center field to drive in the first run, Easton Kraft getting walked in another, an error by the 39ers’ infield added two, and doubles by Talan Gregory and Isaac Kraft drove in three, creating a 7-2 lead.
After scoreless fourth and fifth innings, Velva’s Peyton Weidler grounded into a fielder’s choice to drive in a run in the top of the sixth. Later that inning, Easton Kraft singled a line drive to center field to drive in another run for Devils Lake. The 39ers attempted a comeback in the top of the seventh, scoring four runs, but it wasn’t enough as the Storm won 8-7.
Talan Gregory started on the mound for Devils Lake, surrendering four hits and three runs (two earned) over six innings, striking out three and walking three. Kason Larson took the loss for Velva, going for six innings and allowing eight runs (four earned) on 10 hits, striking out three and walking three.
Devils Lake head coach Parker Schmid said of the comeback attempt, “I thought the focus was good in the start of the first game, and then we kind of lost focus at the end.”
Devils Lake began the second game batting in the top of the first, with singles from Henley Driessen, Easton Kraft, and Riley Brenno-Quale driving in one run each for a 3-0 start. In the top of the second, Henley Driessen hit a double deep into center field to drive in two runs, and Easton Kraft’s infield single drove in another to establish a 6-0 start.
The Storm cemented their dominance with an explosive top of the third. An error by the Velva infield, a single by Andrew Hammond, and a double by Easton Kraft drove in six more runs for a 12-0 lead. The 39ers avoided a shutout in the bottom of the third with a ground ball from Luke Selzler driving in one run.
After a scoreless fourth inning, Andrew Hammond scored a run on a passed ball and Riley Brenno-Quale slammed a triple to left field to drive in another in the top of the fifth. Velva scored one run later that inning, with Devils Lake taking the win 14-2 via run rule.
Jaxon Strong earned the win on the mound in the second game for Devils Lake. The starter allowed zero hits and one run over two and one-third innings, striking out two and walking four. Riley Brenno-Quale appeared in relief, allowing four hits and one run, striking out one and walking none. Cooper Kittleson started for Velva, giving up 12 runs (seven earned) on eight hits, striking out five and walking three in his two and one-third innings on the mound.
“We wanted that second win,” Schmid said. “We wanted to stay undefeated in the region and we just found a way to win.”
The Devils Lake Storm B will head to Rolla on Monday, July 6, where they will face off against Rolla Post 235 B in an away doubleheader.