Rug burned: Walks trouble Midgets in home-opening loss to Jamestown

• Alex Huschka

Press Photo by Royal McGregor Dickinson High junior Alex Huschka connects on a double Friday in the first game against Jamestown during the baseball team’s home opener at Southside Municipal Ballpark, which has a new FieldTurf infield. Jamestown won the West Region game of the doubleheader 3-2 and took the second game 12-4.

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Throwing strikes is the name of the game in North Dakota high school baseball.

The Dickinson High baseball team knew it, but just didn’t execute it. The Midgets gave up 10 free passes and Jamestown won the West Region game of a doubleheader 3-2 on Friday at the Southside Municipal Ballpark and brand-new Astoria Field. Jamestown won the nonconference game 12-4.

“You’ve got to throw strikes in high school baseball,” Dickinson head coach Pete Dobitz said. “If you don’t, then the other team is going to become passive and start looking. You can’t give them free rides and that’s what we were doing.”

However the free passes didn’t completely haunt the Midgets (2-4, 1-2 West), thanks to the new FieldTurf that was completed earlier this week. The defense got crisp bounces that allowed for two double plays. This game marked the Midgets’ first home game this season.

“Groundballs, you definitely get true hoops,” Dickinson sophomore Brett Schweitzer said. “There’s no difficulties in fielding the ball. It’s smooth.”

Midgets starting pitcher James Kary was tagged with the loss after throwing four innings, allowing three runs and walking nine batters.

Kary’s trouble started in the first inning when he walked four straight batters before striking the next three out in order.

Dickinson’s Dylan Skabo came into pitch one inning of relief. He walked a batter but didn’t allow a run.

Korey Kallenbach had the most success out of the entire Midgets’ pitchers, throwing two perfect innings to close out the game.

“Korey’s done a great job this year,” Dobitz said. “I’m very happy with how he has thrown this year. He throws strikes and lets the defense work for him.”

On the mound for the Blue Jays was Tyler Krenz. The 6-foot-6 senior right-hander threw seven innings and allowed two runs.

“He did a great job,” Jamestown head coach Cory Anderson said. “Tyler really stepped up and gave us exactly what we needed. We played good defense behind him.”

The Blue Jays’ (6-0, 1-0 West) bats were kept at bay for a majority of the game as they only collected three hits.

Danny Fischer accounted for two. The senior leadoff hitter went 2-for-2 with two doubles and scored two runs.

“We didn’t do too much offensively, but what we did was timely,” Anderson said. “We didn’t have any errors.”

Dickinson didn’t have much luck with the bats either. Schweitzer went 1-for-3 and drove both Dickinson two runs, while sophomore Alex Huschka knocked a double over the left fielder’s head.

“He (Krenz) was just throwing fastballs, so it was just my timing,” Schweitzer said. “I read that pitch and got the pitch I wanted.”

Despite not racking up hits, Dobitz was impressed with how the team is making contact with the bat, especially for senior first baseman Taylor Thiel.

“Taylor Thiel has hit the ball real well this year it’s just been right at a lot of people,” Dobitz said. “He’s stung the ball hard. That’s the positive part you have to take from it.”

When the Midgets did get on base, they made the most of it. Dickinson had five stolen bases in part to the easy footing on the turf.

“We’ve been working hard on reading pitchers and getting some good jumps,” Dobitz said.

In the nonconference game, the Blue Jays put up six runs in the fourth inning.

Dickinson pitcher Austin Fitterer was tagged with the loss while Shaun Hogan grabbed the win.

Brady Anderson went 2-for-3 with a triple to lead the Blue Jays and Tyler Ukestad had two hits.

For the Midgets, Kallenbach went 2-for-2 with a run, followed by Mason Schiff and Schweitzer each with base hits.

Jamestown 3, Dickinson 2

J 111 000 0 — 3 3 0

D 010 001 0 — 2 2 2

Tyler Krenz and Cody Benson. James Kary, Dylan Skabo (5), Korey Kallenbach (6) and Brady Dutchak. W–Krenz. L–Kary. HR–None.

Highlights: J, Danny Fischer 2-for-2, 2B, 2 BB, 2 runs; Riley Schafer 1-for-3; Brady Anderson 0-1, 3 BB; Tyler Ukestad 0-for-3, 1 run. D, Brett Schweitzer 1-for-3, 2 RBI; Alex Huschka 1-for-3, 2B; James Kary 0-for-2, 2 runs.

Jamestown 12, Dickinson 4

J 122 61 — 12 8 2

D 210 01 — 4 4 6

Shaun Hogan, Tyler Ukestad (5) and Joey Gebhert. Austin Fitterer, Mark Erickson (4) and Erickson and Dutchak. W–Hogan. L–Fitterer. HR–None.

Highlights: J, Brady Anderson 2-for-3, 3B; Ukestad 2-for-4. D, Kallenbach 2-for-2, run; Mason Schiff 1-for-1, run; Schweitzer 1-for-3.

Records: J 6-0, D 2-4

Tags: high school baseball, dickinson midgets, southside municipal ballpark, sports, baseball