Midnight Magic

• Stephen Laylock

Press Photo by Chris Aarhus Dickinson starting pitcher Stephen Laylock throws against Fargo Post 2 in the second round of the Class A state baseball tournament Thursday at John Randall Field. The game didn’t start until 10:17 p.m. Central Time. The game ended at 1:14 a.m.

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WAHPETON - Momentum changed with one late-night swing.

The pitch came from Fargo Post 2 pitcher Jake Nystrom and left the ballpark courtesy of Dickinson slugger Cole Frenzel, who hammered a ball into the trees behind the right-field fence to give the Roughriders a four-run lead and an eventual 10-7 victory in the second winners' bracket game of the Class A American Legion state baseball tournament Wednesday at Southside Municipal Ballpark.

"He jammed me with a fastball that I fouled off and then, he came right back at me," Frenzel said. "I got the barrel extended. I knew as soon as it left the bat. It felt really good."

The game started at 10:17 p.m. and didn't finish until after 1 a.m. Fargo coach Jeff Fiechtner wasn't amused.

"There's no way in hell we should be (starting) a game at 10:15," Fiechtner said.

Dickinson (35-9) meets Mandan in the late game scheduled for 7 p.m. today with a trip to the state championship on the line while Fargo (33-19) plays Bismarck in loser-out action at 1 p.m.

"We're where we want to be," Dickinson coach Andy Emard said. "(Eric) Seiler's going to take the ball (on the hill). It's going to be a big game."

Frenzel's grand slam made sure Dickinson earned its spot against Mandan.

Dickinson trailed 6-4 going into the bottom of the seventh when Tyler Steffan reached on a walk and was driven across on a sacrifice from Kyle Breen. Tommy Peters reached on a double and was plated by

Stephen Laylock. With the bases loaded and early morning fog rolling in, Frenzel smashed 1-1 pitch from Nystrom for a grand slam and his 26th home run on the year to put the Riders up 10-6. He finished 3-for-4.

"Cole did what great players do," Emard said. "They shine when it's time."

Dickinson starter Stephen Laylock struggled in the third inning, but went the distance allowing seven runs on nine hits. He struck out 11 in the complete-game effort, hurling around a 140 pitches.

"Stephen does a good job of letting me know," Emard said about the decision to leave Laylock in the game. "He keeps his arm in pretty good shape."

Fargo reliever Matt Wawers suffered the loss, replacing starter Zach Noriega, who fanned 10 batters in five innings as Post 2 dominated the middle innings.

It started off bad for Fargo, but turned worse for Dickinson in a hurry.

After NOriega gave up a three-run home run to Dickinson NO. 5 hitter Tyler Steffan in the bottom of the first, Post 2 came back with six runs off of Laylock.

Zak Argall and Matt Wavers each singled to start the inning and Justin Fahy walked to load the bases.

With one out, Matt Achter walked to plate Argall. Two batters later, Mike Jones drilled a two-RBI double to left-center field. Jones and Ernst, who reached on a single, came home on a double by Andrew Schweigert.

Fargo was led at the plate by Christian Barnum and Zak Argall, who each had two hits.

Fargo 006 000 001 - 7 9 0

Dickinson 300 100 60x - 10 9 5

Zach Noriega, Matt Wawers (5), Jake Nystrom (7) and Mike Jones. Stephen Laylock and Michael Steve. W- Laylock. L-Wawers. HR-D, Cole Frenzel (26), Tyler Steffan (9).

Highlights: F, Christian Barnum 2-for-4, walk, RBI; ZaK Argall 2-for-4, 2B, Noriega 5 IP, 4 R, 5 H, 6 BB, 2 HB, 10 K. D, Frenzel 3-for-4, 4 RBIs, grand slam, 3 runs; Stephen Laylock 9 IP, 7 R, 9 H, 5 BB, 11 K, 2-for-5, RBI; Tommy Peters 2-for-4; Steffan 1-for-2, 4 RBIs, SAC, walk.

Tags: legion baseball, baseball, roughriders, sports