Roughriders pummel Jamestown at state tournament

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GRAND FORKS — Dickinson Roughriders coach Andy Emard holds pitcher Sean Kelly to a high standard.

“He’s our No. 1 guy and we expect a lot out of him,” Emard said. “He would probably be the first to tell you that he didn’t have his best stuff tonight. He had some walks and hit batsmen that need to be eliminated as we go forward.”

Seven shutout innings while allowing just four hits on Tuesday against Jamestown shows the height of Kelly’s expectations.

Dickinson rapped out 12 hits, triggered the 10-run rule and provided more than enough offense for Kelly as the Roughriders cruised to a 13-0 victory over Jamestown on the opening day of the Class A American Legion baseball state tournament at Kraft Field.

“Kelly was out of the zone a little bit early, but he ended up throwing pretty well,” Emard said. “His command wasn’t always there. We can’t give away extra bases.”

But Kelly, who improved to 4-3 on the year, settled into a groove as Jamestown’s fifth through ninth hitters combined to go 0-for-14 off the right-hander.

“With us, it always comes down to pitching and defense,” said Emard, whose team improved to 12-20.

There was plenty of offense, as well, for the Roughriders, who advance to play top-seeded Williston at 4 p.m. MDT today.

The Roughriders loaded the bases in the first inning but managed only one run off Jamestown starter Riley Schaefer.

Schaefer, however, couldn’t wiggle out of trouble in the second as he allowed two more runs and was chased for reliever Danny Fisher.

Fisher went the next 3Xc innings and didn’t fare much better. Dickinson piled on three runs in the third and two in the fifth. The Roughriders sent 10 batters to the plate in a four-run sixth inning that ended the game after seven innings by the mercy rule.

The Dickinson offense was led by two hits each from Brett Braunagel, Grant Dvorak, Brady Dutchak and Korey Kallenbach, who shared game most valuable player honors with Kelly. Jordan Tescher was also 1-for-1 for the Roughriders, while walking twice and getting beaned twice.

Jacob Stilwell had a pair of hits to pace the Jamestown offense.

Jamestown dropped to 11-25 on the year.

“We just weren’t able to put up a 0,” Jamestown coach Shane Schoeneberg said. “And four errors ... you’re not going to win with four errors too often.

“The big thing in Legion baseball is what I call the battle of the freebies. And we gave away way too many extra outs. Dickinson capitalized on that every time. They made us pay.”

Jamestown 000 000 0 — 0 4 4

Dickinson 121 324 x — 13 12 2

W– Sean Kelly. L– Riley Schaefer.

Highlights: J, Jacob Stilwell 2-for-3; Jordan Lynch 1-for-2; Brady Anderson 1-for-2. D, Brett Braunagel 2-for-4, 2B; Grant Dvorak 2-for-3; Brady Dutchak 2-for-4; Korey Kallenbach 2-for-3; Jordan Tescher 1-for-1, 2 BBs, 2 HBPs.

Miller is a sports reporter for the Grand Forks Herald, which is owned by The Forum Communication Co.

Tags: legion baseball, dickinson roughriders, sports, baseball