Roughriders play catch up, fall to Fargo

• Dylan Skabo

Press Photo by Royal McGregor Dickinson Roughriders shortstop Dylan Skabo, left, looks the ball into his glove as Fargo Post 2’s Aaron Green slides into second base and Dickinson first baseman Cole Anderson, foreground, watches the play during an American Legion baseball game on Thursday at Southside Municipal Ballpark.

Talk about it

Brady Dutchak didn’t know it was gone until he saw it clear the fence.

The soon-to-be senior at Dickinson High hit his first-ever home run in the bottom of the seventh inning to tie the game 8-8.

“That my first home run ever, in any league,” Dutchak said. “I didn’t think it was gone right away.”

But, the two-run home run didn’t rattle Fargo Post 2 as it scored a run in the eighth inning to defeat the Dickinson Roughriders 9-8 and completed the sweep with a 3-2 win in an American Legion Baseball doubleheader on Thursday at the Southside Municipal Ballpark.

“We have played with everybody all year,” Dickinson head coach Cory Hansen said. “There are other teams that have been 10-runned and beaten up and we’ve been within striking distance. We can’t get a break right now.”

Fargo scored six of its nine runs in the first inning as Connor Robley led the offensive attack with a two-run single. Robley went 3-for-4 with two RBIs and a double.

“We just have to keep up our intensity throughout the whole game,” Robley said. “We can’t let it slip back like that.”

Alex Huschka started for the Roughriders, throwing six innings and allowing seven runs. Huschka took his punches in the first, but calmed down to throw four straight scoreless innings. Seth Kelly, who has spent most of the season injured, was tagged with the loss after coming in to pitch the seventh and eighth innings.

“When Huschka’s good, he’s great,” Dutchak said. “But as he shown in the first inning, he can have those bad innings. He never gives you a terrible outing, he still went six innings.”

Fargo’s Stephen Howlett matched Huschka going 5 1/3 innings, striking out seven and allowing six runs. Nick Salentine pitched the final 2 2/3 innings for the win.

Dickinson’s biggest asset this season has been the ability to make a comeback. The opening game was no exception. The Roughriders scratched runs across in the first, sixth and seventh innings.

“That’s our biggest strength not to give up,” Dutchak said. “The coaches have been saying all season that we never give up and we show it ever game, we just don’t finish. That will come, state tournament is a couple weeks away.”

Seth Tollefson supplied a 2-for-3 performance with two RBIs, while Aaron Green added two RBIs.

For Dickinson, Cole Anderson and Luke Herauf each posted multiple hits, while Dylan Skabo, Mason Schiff and James Kary each had hits.

In the nightcap, Matt Schalow’s solo home run in the fifth inning proved to be the game winner.

Aaron Berg pitched all seven innings for the Roughriders allowing three runs and striking out four.

“We are doing great pitching,” Hansen said. “We our hit them today.”

Kameron Giffey took the mound for Fargo, tallying seven innings, allowing two runs and striking out two.

Dickinson scored its two runs in the third inning when James Kary hit a two-run single, while two of Fargo’s three runs came in the second.

The Roughriders travel to Rapid City, S.D., for the Pev Evans Tournament this weekend. Dickinson starts play against the Davy Jones Rangers at 5 p.m. today.

“Hopefully, we can get a break and things will come together by state,” Hansen said. “We need a few more games and a few more practices and hopefully things will break open.”

Fargo 610 000 11 — 9 11 3

Dickinson 300 003 20 — 8 8 2

Stephen Howlett, Nick Salentine (6) and Joe Hallock. Alex Huschka, Sean Kelly (7) and Brady Dutchak. W–Salentine. L–Kelly. HR–Dutchak.

Highlights: F, Connor Robley 3-for-4, 2 RBI, 2B; Seth Tollefson 2-for-3, 2 RBI; Aaron Green 1-for-3, 2 RBI; Salentine 1-for-2, run. D, Dutchak 2-for-3, HR, 2 RBI; Cole Anderson 2-for-4, 2 run; Luke Herauf 2-for-4, run; Dylan Skabo 1-for-5, run; Mason Schiff 1-for-3, run; James Kary 1-for-4, run.

Fargo 020 010 0 — 3 6 1

Dickinson 002 000 0 — 2 9 0

Kameron Giffey and Hallock. Aaron Berg and Dutchak. W–Giffey. L–Berg. HR–Matt Schalow.

Highlights: F, Schalow 2-for-4, HR, RBI, run; Gunnar Linstaedt 2-for-3, 2B, run; Hallock 1-for-2, RBI, run; Tollefson 1-for-2, RBI. D, Kary 1-for-3, 2 RBI; Skabo 2-for-4, run, 2B; Mark Erickson 1-for-3; Brett Braunagel 1-for-3, 2B; Herauf 1-for-3; Taylor Kraenzel 1-for-2; Huschka 1-for-1; Schiff run, SB.

Tags: american legion baseball, dickinson roughriders, sports, baseball