Photo by Noah Clooten
The Devils Lake Storm just keep on winning.
The A team (22-7, 15-3) handily won both games of a doubleheader against the West Fargo Vets (15-16, 6-9) on the road Wednesday, extending its winning streak to eight games. Neither game was particularly close, with scores of 8-2 and 9-1. The Storm locked up the No. 1 seed in the East, ahead of Wahpeton Post 20 (21-6, 11-5).
The first contest was led by Simon Beach’s fifth complete game of the summer. It was an ordinary outing for him: only one strikeout and only one walk. He threw 85 pitches and allowed two runs (one earned).
The offensive scored five of its eight runs in the first inning. Four walks, along with multiple errors and passed balls, helped Devils Lake jump out to the early lead.
Two Storm errors allowed West Fargo to get on the board in the fourth. The Vets scored another on a two-out single in the sixth.
But Devils Lake put up a run in each of the final three innings. Trason and Mason Palmer each had two-out RBI hits, while Parker Brodina added a sacrifice fly to secure the final 8-2 score.
The Storm drew seven walks, including two by Beau Brodina, and only struck out three times. Palmer went 2-for-3 with a walk.
The success carried into the nightcap. B. Brodina kept getting on base out of the leadoff spot, going 1-for-1 with a double and three walks. Palmer threw five innings of one-run ball on the mound, striking out five and not issuing any walks. Southpaw Taydon Triepke finished the game out with two scoreless innings.
It was 3-1 through five innings, but a six-run outburst in the sixth inning put the game away. There were bunt hits, walks, passed balls and even a balk. Hunter Remmick stayed hot, too, with a walk and an RBI double in the inning.
Devils Lake just continues to play its best all-around baseball as of late, getting productive offensive outputs up and down the lineup along with dominant pitching performances. The A team has just one more doubleheader before the playoffs — this Friday at home against Thompson Post 181, a non-conference opponent.
The Storm are guaranteed a bye in the region tournament now, so their first game will be next Thursday.
