SECTION 8 TOURNAMENT: Mandan overpowers Volunteers

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MANDAN — Top-seeded Mandan struck quick and often.

By the time the fourth-seeded Dickinson Volunteers got someone on the scoreboard, there was little they could do to stop the A’s, who secured a 16-6 victory in five innings Thursday during the second round of the Section 8 American Legion baseball tournament at Mandan Municipal Ballpark.

The A’s had an 11-0 lead after three innings and added five more runs in the fourth after the Volunteers cut into the margin thanks to Tevin Papineau’s three-run homer led to a four-run fourth inning.

A five-strikeout effort by Mandan pitcher Jordy Wenstrom kept the Volunteers from making any big surges late, dropping them to the loser-out bracket where they face Hazen at 12:30 p.m. MDT today.

“He lived right around the zone,” Volunteers coach Carter Fong said. “He hit his spots and kept us off balance. He painted the outside corner with fastballs and it took us four innings to get to him. By that time, the game had almost gotten out of hand already.”

Papineau was one of the few bright spots for the Volunteers (25-19).

The first baseman hit his fifth homer of the season in the fourth and added an RBI triple in the fifth inning.

“Tevin’s been a run-producer for us all year long and his swing was really on today,” Fong said.

D.J. Weismann had an RBI triple, Grant Dvorak was 1-for-2 with a double and an RBI and Jordan Tescher went 2-for-3 while stealing two bases and scoring a run.

Fong said although Dickinson has been bumped to the loser’s bracket, he is confident they have the pitching depth to come out of it and still make a run at the title.

“We’re down but we’re not out,” Fong said. “We need to have a short memory because we’re still alive and tomorrow is another day.”

Mandan faces Beulah at 5:30 p.m. MDT in the semifinals.

Mandan 16, Dickinson 6

Dickinson 000 42 — 6 7 4

Mandan 344 5x — 16 13 3

Scott Gordon, Korey Kallenbach (2), Braxton MacKenzie (4) and Grant Dvoark. Jordy Wenstrom and Dwight Mack. W–Wenstrom. L–Gordon (2-4). HR–Dickinson, Tevin Papineau (5).

Highlights: Dickinson, Papineau 2-for-3, HR, 3B, 4 RBI; Jordan Tescher 2-for-3, run, 2 SB; Dvorak 1-for-2, 2B, RBI; D.J. Weismann 1-for-2, 3B, RBI. Mandan, Tanner Schaf 2-for-3, 3 runs, BB; Mack 2-for-3, 3B, 2B, BB, 2 RBI; Brian Houser 2-for-3, 2B, 2 RBI.

Records: Dickinson 25-19.

Beulah 9, Washburn 8

The Cyclones advanced in the winners’ bracket, scoring the bulk of their runs in the second inning.

Beulah starter Levi Lawson struggled through six innings, but earned the victory. Closer Erik Ham picked up the save with a scoreless seventh inning. Luke Senske led the Cyclones, going 2-for-2 with two runs scored. He also had a home run.

Washburn outhit Beulah 12-7, but couldn’t recover from a bad second inning. Starter Charlie Retterath lasted just three innings before reliever Evan Eberle entered. Eberle surrendered just one run. Post 12 was led by Mitch Wachendorf and Cole Bender, who both went 2-for-3.

Washburn 003 113 0 — 8 12 3

Beulah 161 010 x — 9 7 2

Charlie Retterath, Evan Eberle (4) and Cody Durkee. Levi Lawson, Erik Ham (7) and Ryan Koch. W–Lawson. L–Retterath. S–Ham. HR–W, Jeff Rasmussen. B, Luke Senske.

Highlights: W, Mitch Wachendorf 2-for-3, 2 runs; Cole Bender 2-for-3, 3 runs; Rasmussen 2-for-4, 3 RBI; Cody Durkee 2-for-4. B, Ben Maliske, 3B, 2 runs; Senske 2-for-2, 2 runs; Jesse Grad 2-for-3, 2B, 3 RBI.

Hazen 11, Bowman County 4

The Astros kept their season alive with a convincing victory over Bowman County, which ended its first season at 3-27.

The Bulldogs held a 1-0 lead going into the bottom of the third inning when Hazen exploded for six runs. The Astros got four more in the fourth when they led 10-2.

Hazen starter Preston Landenberg pitched a complete game, allowing four runs on four hits for the win. Bowman County starter Kyle Palczewski suffered the loss.

The Bulldogs were led at the plate by Daulton Braaten, who went 1-for-2 with an RBI.

Hazen’s Tanner Borlaug went 3-for-3 with a trio of doubles and an RBI. Kirby Duewel went 2-for-4.

BC 010 100 2 — 4 4 1

Hazen 006 40 1 — 11 8 5

Kyle Palczewski, Travis Teske (5) and Tyler Hendrix. Preston Landenberg and Kyle Irwin. W–Landenberg. L–Palczewski.

Highlights: H, Tanner Borlaug 3-for-3, 3 2Bs, RBI; Dustin Snyder RBI; Kirby Duewel 2-for-4, 2 RBI. BC, Daulton Braaten 1-for-2, RBI; Trevor Smelnaker 1-for-2.

Hettinger 5, Dunn County 3

In loser-out action, Hettinger faced a stiff test from Dunn County, but pulled through thanks to a strong performance from starter Alex Willoughby, who went the distance allowing just one earned run on four hits. Hettinger led 4-3 in the seventh when a home run by Joe Sackmann gave the Bears an insurance run.

Saints starter Shane Dukart took the loss in the complete-game effort. Dunn County ends its inaugural season at 1-28.

Hettinger 001 210 1 — 5 8 1

DC 100 002 0 — 3 4 3

Alex Willoughby and Blaise Kautzman. Shane Dukart and Austyn Sadowsky. W–Willoughby. L–Dukart. HR–H, Joe Sackmann.

Highlights: H, Brade Schweitzer 2-for-4, 2B, RBI; Joe Sackmann 1-for-4, RBI. DC, Brodie Candrian 1-for-3, RBI; Kyle Boster 1-for-3, RBI.

Tags: legion baseball, sports, volunteers, baseball