Huschka, Midgets beat Saints 3-1 in West Region Tournament opener

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WILLISTON — Dickinson High won a pitcher’s duel and used small ball to help it score runs Thursday afternoon in its opening game at the West Region baseball tournament.

Alex Huschka gave up just two hits over seven innings as the No. 2 seed Midgets beat No. 7 seed Bismarck St. Mary’s 3-1 in the quarterfinals.

Brady Dutchak’s RBI triple in the fifth put Dickinson ahead and Brett Schweitzer’s pinch-hit RBI single in the sixth gave Huschka and the Midgets some extra cushion.

“It’s all about doing what’s necessary for the team at this point in the season and the boys understand that,” Dickinson head coach Pete Dobitz said.

Huschka struck out seven and walked four. His counterpart, St. Mary’s ace Trent Bohan, also struck out seven and walked four while allowing four Dickinson hits.

“We knew Trent Bohan was a good pitcher,” Dobitz said. “He throws hard, keeps the ball low. He’s had some shutout games against some other teams in the conference.”

After three scoreless innings, Dickinson got its first run in the fourth when Taylor Thiel reached on a single and advanced to second base on a wild pitch.

At that point, Dobitz substituted courtesy runner Austin Fitterer, who went to third on another wild pitch.

Bohan tried to pick off Fitterer, but the ball hit him and went astray, allowing Fitterer to score the tying run.

Thiel’s bunt and James Kary’s fly out in the fifth helped Dylan Skabo reach third base. He scored on Dutchak’s triple.

St. Mary’s (7-23) scored early when a Tyler Famias single scored Andrew Thorson in the first inning.

Huschka was dominant from there on out and helped the Midgets (16-11) reach the semifinals, where they’ll face No. 6 seed Bismarck High at 3 p.m. Bismarck upset No. 3 seed Bismarck Century 2-1 in the quarterfinals.

SM 100 000 0 — 1 2 2

DHS 000 111 x — 3 4 2

Trent Bohan and Preston Tescher. Alex Huschka and Brady Dutchak. W–Huschka. L–Bohan. HR–None.

Highlights: SM, Andrew Thorson 1-for-2, run; Tyler Famias 1-for-3, RBI; Bohan 6 IP, 7 K, 4 BB, 4 H, 2 ER. D, Huschka 7 IP, 7 K, 4 BB, 2 H, 1 ER; Dylan Skabo 1-for-3, run; Taylor Thiel 1-for-2; Brett Braunagel 1-for-2, run; Dutchak 1-for-2, 3B, RBI; Brett Schweitzer 1-for-1, RBI.

Records: Dickinson 16-11, SM 7-23.

West Region Tournament

At Williston (all times MDT)

Games Thursday

Play-in: Williston 24, Turtle Mountain 1

Quarterfinals

2) Dickinson 3, Bismarck St. Mary’s 1

3) Bismarck High 2, Bismarck Century 1

4) Minot High 14, Jamestown 6 (8 innings)

5) Williston 9, Mandan 8

Games today

Consolation semifinals

6) Bismarck St. Mary’s vs. Bismarck Century, 10 a.m.

7) Jamestown vs. Mandan, 12:30 p.m.

Semifinals

8) Dickinson vs. Bismarck High, 3 p.m.

9) Minot High vs. Williston, 5:30 p.m.

Games Saturday

State qualifier: Game 6 winner vs. Game 9 loser, 11 a.m.

State qualifier: Game 7 winner vs. Game 8 loser, 1:30 p.m.

Championship: Game 8 winner vs. Game 9 winner, 4 p.m.

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