Edged in the 9th

The Dickinson High baseball team's defensive woes haven't cost it too much thus far this season.

But the Midgets' errors finally caught up to them when they lost to Bismarck Century 6-5 in nine innings in the West Region game of a doubleheader Thursday at Southside Municipal Ballpark.

Century won the nonconference game 9-4 in three innings.

The Midgets committed six errors in the first game, with four of those contributing to Patriots runs.

"We visited after the game and one of the boys brought up that you don't deserve to win if you have six errors," Dickinson head coach Pete Dobitz said. "We understand where we shot ourselves in the foot."

The loss dropped Dickinson (8-4, 4-2 West) to third place in the West.

An error in the ninth by the Midgets gave the Patriots an extra out needed to bring in the winning run.

Century junior Dan Bihrle, who started the game on the mound but moved to first base in the seventh, drove in junior Tom Keller from third.

Bihrle hit to Midgets senior Kyle Breen at short, who threw to junior Grant Dvorak at second for a force play. Dvorak's throw to first that would have been the third out wasn't in time.

Keller led off the ninth with a single, went to second on a sacrifice bunt and to third on the error.

"I told the kids we just kept battling back," Century co-coach Kent Schweigert said.

Patriots reliever Tate Leapelt got three quick outs in Dickinson's turn in the ninth for the win.

While Leapelt had great stuff coming in the game in the seventh, Dobitz said his players were also more aggressive at the plate, with so-so results.

"You have to slow down, take a couple of deep breaths and be patient," Dobitz said.

Sean Kelly took the loss in relief for Dickinson after Eric Seiler pitched seven innings.

It was a rollercoaster affair with the teams either exchanging the lead or tying the game up in the fifth, sixth and seventh innings.

Dickinson senior Jordan Tescher almost won the game with a walk-off home run in the eighth that was caught at the fence.

"I didn't think I got very much of it," Tescher said. "I hoped it was in the gap."

Century (10-5, 6-1 West) took a 5-4 lead in the top of the seventh after scoring twice.

Junior Carson Wentz hit a RBI triple that went underneath the glove of a charging Ryan Jones as he was coming in from center field. Wentz's triple scored Leapelt, whose run tied the game.

Wentz scored the go-ahead run on a Bihrle sacrifice fly to center.

The Midgets rallied in the seventh when Tommy Peters hit an RBI single that dribbled into left. Breen scored from second easily after Keller bobbled the ball trying to throw him out at home.

Dickinson struck first, taking a 2-0 lead in the first as Jones and Peters hit RBI singles.

The Patriots then came back to tie the game in the third when Keller and shortstop Erik Peterson hit RBI singles.

A balk by Bihrle gave the Midgets a 3-2 lead in the fifth as Tescher came home from third. Caleb Burgard had a RBI single in the sixth that put Dickinson up 4-3.

Bismarck tied the game at 3 in the sixth when junior Logan Rauhauser hit a RBI single. An error by Tescher allowed Bihrle, who led off the inning with a single, to go to third from first.

Dickinson travels to Minot for a doubleheader Saturday at 10 a.m. and noon.

BC 002 001 201 -- 6 10 1

DHS 200 011 100 -- 5 11 6

Dan Bihrle, Tate Leapelt (7) and Justin Ledger. Eric Seiler, Sean Kelly (8) and Connor McNeilly. W-Leapelt. L-Kelly.

Highlights: BC, Bihrle, 1-for-3, 2 RBI; Carson Wentz, 1-for-4, RBI, 3B; DHS, Tommy Peters, 1-for-3, 2 RBI; McNeilly, 2-for-4; Kelly, 2-for-4.

Records: BC 9-5, 6-1 West Region, DHS 8-3, 4-2 West Region.

BC 180 -- 9 7 0

DHS 440 -- 4 4 0

Alex Bray and Logan Rauhauser. Brandon Lange, Jordan Tescher (2), Kyle Breen (3) and Grant Dvorak. W-Bray. L-Breen.

Highlights: BC, Carson Wentz, 2-for-3, 2 RBI. DHS, Breen, 1-for-1, 2B, 3 RBI; Scott Gordon, 1-for-2, RBI.

Records: BC 10-5, DHS 8-4.