JAMESTOWN -- The Dickinson High softball team gave up just two runs in two games Saturday at the West Region Tournament at Hillcrest Softball Complex.
Yet, the second-seed Midgets found themselves on the short end of a 1-0 loss to three-seed Bismarck Century in the morning game, sending them to a state-qualifier game.
Dickinson stayed mentally tough and bounced back to beat Minot 4-1 and earn a spot in the Class A state tournament that begins Thursday in West Fargo.
Junior Haley Butterfield pitched six scoreless innings against Century.
But, the Dickinson junior gave up a RBI triple to Dominique Giesen in the top of the seventh in what proved to be the difference in the game. The Midgets out-hit the Patriots 4-2.
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"We played well all day," Midgets coach Bill Butterfield said. "We were error free in the first ball game. We had a no-hitter going into the seventh, and they had the timely hits and got us in the first one."
Dickinson (19-5) started slow against Minot. But the Midgets exploded with a four-run fourth inning to take control against the fourth-seeded Majettes.
"We went 10 scoreless innings and that just doesn't happen very often for us," Bill Butterfield said. "We kept battling and fighting, and came through and got it done against Minot.
"The character of our team has always been strong."
Rachel Jahner, Jess Priebe, Mackee Hoffmann, Brianna Farnsworth, Madi Steier, Madison Jahner and Haley Butterfield all hit triples against the Majettes.
Now, Dickinson can turn its attention toward Valley City in the opening round of the state tourney at 4 p.m. MDT Thursday at Elmwood Park in West Fargo.
It's the Midgets second consecutive trip to state.
"We're excited," Bill Butterfield said. "We're looking forward to having a good time and having a good showing over at state."
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Notes: Bill Butterfield was named West Region Coach of the Year. Century's Brianna Flynn was named the West Region Outstanding Senior.
Results Saturday
West Region Tournament
Bismarck Century 1, Dickinson High 0
Century 000 000 1 -- 1 2 2
Dickinson 000 000 0 -- 0 4 0
Haley Butterfield. Cassidy Miller. W-Miller. L-Butterfield.
Highlights: D, Mackee Hoffman 3B, 2B. C, Dominique Giesen 3B, RBI.
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Dickinson High 4, Minot High 1
Minot 000 001 0 -- 1 7 1
Dickinson 000 400 0 -- 4 8 1
Madison Jahner. Alexis Benno. W-Jahner. L-Benno.
Highlights: D, Brianna Farnsworth 3B, 2B 2 RBIs; Madi Steier 3 3B, 2B, RBI. M, Benno 2 3B, 2B, RBI; Jessica Kongelf 2 3B; Hannah Scheile 2 3B.
Records: D 19-5.
Tournament schedule
West Region Tournament
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At Hillcrest Softball Complex, Jamestown
Games Friday
Quarterfinals
1) No. 5 Bismarck 11, No. 4 Minot 0
2) No. 2 Dickinson 25, No. 7 Turtle Mountain 0
3) No. 3 Century 18, No. 6 Jamestown 0
Loser-out
4) Jamestown 14, Turtle Mountain 2
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Games today (all times CDT)
Semifinals
5) No. 1 Minot Ryan 10, Bismarck 0
6) Century 1, Dickinson 0
State qualifiers, loser out
7) Bismarck 6, Jamestown 1
8) Dickinson 4, Minot 1
Championship
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9) Minot Ryan 10, Century 0, 6 innings
Class A state tournament
At Elmwood Park, West Fargo
Games Thursday
1) West Fargo (No. 1 East) vs. Bismarck High (No. 4 West), noon
2) Bismarck Century (No. 2 West) vs. Fargo Davies (No. 3 East), approx. 2 p.m.
3) Minot Ryan (No. 1 West) vs. Fargo North (No. 4 East), 4:30 p.m.
4) Valley City (No. 2 East) vs. Dickinson (No. 3 West), approx. 7 p.m.
Games Friday
Consolation semifinals
5) Game 1 loser vs. Game 2 loser, 10 a.m.
6) Game 3 loser vs. Game 4 loser, approx.. 12:30 p.m.
Semifinals
7) Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner, 6 p.m.
8) Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 winner, approx. 8:30 p.m.
Games Saturday
Seventh place: Game 5 loser vs. Game 6 loser, 10 a.m.
Fifth place: Game 5 winner vs. Game 6 winner, noon
Third place: Game 7 loser vs. Game 8 loser, 2 p.m.
Championship: Game 7 winner vs. Game 8 winner, 6 p.m.
