Mandan holds down Dickinson

• Tevin Papineau and Aaron Janz

Press Photo by Jason Adkins Mandan’s Aaron Janz, right, retreats to first base Sunday night while Dickinson first baseman Tevin Papineau awaits the throw from the pitcher at Southside Municipal Ballpark.

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The Dickinson Roughriders American Legion baseball team played one of its best stretches Chiefs on Sunday night at Southside Municipal Ballpark.

Unfortunately for Dickinson, its struggles during the first two innings and a lack of offense led to a 4-0 loss in a six-inning game called off due to lightning.

Roughriders starter Taylor Dutchak, who struggled with his control early, regained his composure and threw four scoreless innings in completing the game.

In the first, he gave up a sacrifice fly that allowed a run to come home, but emerged without further damage.

His control problems were evident in the second as he walked four Chiefs batters and gave up two hits as Mandan scored three more runs.

Dickinson head coach Andy Emard decided Dutchak needed a lift.

“It was something Taylor had to work through,” Emard said.

Heading into the West Region playoffs that start Thursday in Mandan, Emard said Dutchak is one of the arms he’s counting on.

“I went out and told him ‘I’m not out here yelling at you this time,’” Emard said. “We need another arm and we need him.”

Dutchak said Emard’s influence helped.

“He said just throw strikes and don’t think about it,” Dutchak said.

He allowed two hits the rest of the game.

Dutchak’s opposite, Mandan starter Andy Conlon, shut the Roughriders down. He struck out six and walked one batter.

“Their pitcher kept us off balance,” Emard said. “He was able to throw three (different) pitches for strikes.”

The Chiefs, second in the state Class A standings, couldn’t take advantage of what has been Dickinson’s main issue all year — needless errors.

The Roughriders (13-23 overall, 7-12 statewide) committed just one error when catcher Nick Rohwedder’s throw to second on a stolen base attempt went into the outfield.

“People were making plays and they had a little more confidence there,” Emard said.

On Monday, Minot beat Dickinson 16-15 in a 10-inning game played in Williston. An evening game between the Roughriders and Williston did not start until 8:30 p.m. The game was still in progress when The Dickinson Press was pubished Monday night. No further information was available on the first game.

Mandan 130 000 — 4 4 0

Dickinson 000 000 — 0 2 1

Andy Conlon and Steve Serr; Taylor Dutchak and Nick Rohwedder. W–Conlon, 5-2. L–Dutchak. Highlights: School, Name, highlights

Records: M, Conlon 5.1 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 6 SO, 1 BB; Brent Stoltz H, R, 3 SB; Reid Jungling H, RBI; Brandon Austad H, RBI.

Mandan 130 000 — 4 4 0

Dickinson 000 000 — 0 2 1

Andy Conlon and Steve Serr; Taylor Dutchak and Nick Rohwedder. W–Conlon, 5-2. L–Dutchak. Highlights: School, Name, highlights

Records: M, Conlon 5.1 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 6 SO, 1 BB; Brent Stoltz H, R, 3 SB; Reid Jungling H, RBI; Brandon Austad H, RBI.

Tags: legion baseball, sports, roughriders