Midgets scores 2 in 8th to beat Red River for 5th place

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WEST FARGO — Resiliency has been the motto of the Dickinson High softball program since its inception.

Once again Saturday, the Midgets proved they can’t be counted out. Down three runs going into the seventh inning of the Class A state tournament consolation championship game, Dickinson rallied to force extra innings with Grand Forks Red River.

In the eighth, Madi Steier had a RBI triple and Jessica Priebe scored Steier on back-to-back at-bats to help the Midgets claim fifth place with an 8-7 win in its first trip to the state tournament.

“One of the things we’ve shown here at the state tournament is that Dickinson has no quit,” Midgets head coach Bill Butterfield said. “The girls just keep battling, battling and battling until they get the result they want. That goes to our senior leadership, where they’ve been and where we’re going.”

Trailing 6-3 going into the seventh, the Midgets began chipping away.

Steier and Rachel Jahner got on base with singles and Kelsey Lafond, one of the team’s two seniors, started the rally with a sacrifice fly to center field that scored Steier.

Briana Farnsworth followed that with a RBI single to plate Jahner and Lexi Yates’ double scored pinch-runner Emilee Sickler to tie the game and force an eighth inning.

Red River regained its lead in the eighth when Taylor Chine drove in Jaiden Hansen, who stole her way around the base paths after reaching on a fielder’s choice, early in the inning.

Dickinson got out of a bases-loaded jam when relief pitcher Madison Jahner, an eighth-grader, struck out McKenna King to end the inning.

With the bats in their hands again, the Midgets went to work.

Beth Honeyman popped up to Red River catcher Caitlin Dahl to lead off the inning but got a second life when Dahl couldn’t come up with the out.

Honeyman wore the next pitch and was replaced by courtesy runner Avery Privratsky, who reached second base on a sacrifice bunt and third on a passed ball.

With two outs and facing a full count, Steier stepped up and ripped a triple to left-center field to score Steier.

Priebe singled her home with a knock into left field on the next at-bat.

Jahner relieved Lafond in the fifth and earned the victory.

Dickinson ended its season with a 23-11 record.

“Overall it’s been a great year,” Butterfield said. “A great learning experience for everybody.”

GFRR 010 230 01 — 7 11 x

Dickinson 030 000 32 — 8 10 x

Emily Lundby and Caitlin Dahl. Kelsey Lafond, Madison Jahner (5) and Lexi Yates. W–Jahner. L–Lundby. HR–None.

Highlights: GFRR, McKenna King 2-for-5, 2B, run; Brenna Nakonechny 1-for-4, 2B, run; Kenzie Dorsher 1-for-4, run; Lundby 1-for-4, 2B, run; Morgan Smith 2-for-3, 2B, 2 runs, SB; Jaiden Hansen 2-for-2, 2B, run, 3 SB; Taylor Chine 1-for-4; Taylor Bye 1-for-4. D, Jessica Priebe 1-for-3, 3 RBI; Rachel Jahner 2-for-4, run; Kelsey Lafond 0-for-3, RBI; Briana Farnsworth 2-for-4, RBI, run; Lexi Yates 2-for-4, 2 2B, RBI; Riana Cooper 1-for-3, RBI; Madi Steier 2-for-3, 3B, RBI, 2 runs.

Tags: high school softball, dickinson midgets, class a state softball tournament, sports, softball