7-run 6th helps DHS beat Century in season opener

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BISMARCK — A seven-run sixth inning got the Dickinson baseball off on the right foot.

The Midgets sent Bismarck Century starter pitcher Alex Bray packing after four scoreless innings and took advantage of the Patriots relievers’ struggles for a 7-0 West Region victory Thursday in its season opener. Century won the five-inning non-region game 9-5.

Bray struck out nine and walked four in four innings but was pulled with his pitch count in the 90s.

“I give our guys a lot of credit. We struck out, but we made him throw pitches,” Dickinson head coach Pete Dobitz said.

Relievers Tyler Mongeon and Hunter Walsh struggled to settle into a groove and the Midgets (1-1, 1-0 West) took advantage.

Taylor Thiel added a two-run double in the sixth.

“They kind of fell apart a little bit, walked some people, a hit here and there, we squeezed a run in on a (Korey Kallenbach) bunt,” Dobitz said.

Meanwhile, starter James Kary kept things in check for the Midgets as he got his first varsity victory.

Kary gave up two hits over 5Zc innings, striking out four and walking four, as he earned the victory. Alex Huschka pitched the rest of the way.

“He had a good outing,” Dobitz said. “He’s going to be our workhorse throughout the year. … He set the concept that you need to get out. He had them off-stride pretty good.”

The tables turned on Dickinson in the second game as it committed four errors that helped Century break a 4-4 tie with five runs in the fourth inning.

“It showed how quickly the wheels can fall off,” Dobitz said. “It happened to them in the first game and it happened to us in the second game.”

The Midgets return to the Capital City today to face Bismarck High at 3:30 p.m.

Dickinson 7, Century 0

D 000 007 0 — 7 5 0

C 000 000 0 — 0 3 3

James Kary, Alex Huschka (6) and Mark Erickson. Alex Bray, Tyler Mongeon (5), Hunter Walsh (6) and Andrew Bargmann. W–Kary. L–Mongeon. HR–None.

Highlights: C, Bray 4 IP, 1 H, 9 K, 4 BB; Walsh 2-for-3, 2B. D, Taylor Thiel 1-for-4, 2B, 2 RBI; Brett Braunagel 1-for-2, 2B; Kary 5.1 IP, 4 K, 4 BB, 2 H.

Century 9, Dickinson 5

D 022 01 — 5 7 4

C 400 50 — 9 7 0

Trevor Coates, Korey Kallenbach (1), Dylan Skabo (4), Brett Schweitzer (4) and Mark Erickson, D.J. Weismann (3). Broc Otterness, Andrew Bargemann (5) and Hunter Huff-Towle. W–Otterness. L–Kallenbach. HR–None.

Highlights: C, Ben Buchholz, 1-for-2; Alex Bray 1-for-2, 2 runs, 2 SB; Huff-Towle 2-for-2. D, Mason Schiff 1-for-2, 2B; Dylan Skabo 1-for-2, 2 runs, 2 SB; Taylor Thiel 1-for-2, 2B, run.

Tags: high school baseball, dickinson midgets, sports, baseball