Roughriders drop two games to Fargo Post 2

Fargo Post 2 came into the summer as the favorite in the state’s AA American Legion baseball polls, and on Tuesday, it showed the Dickinson Roughriders why.

Fargo Post 2 was overwhelming in every facet of its 7-1 and 13-3 wins at Southside Ballpark and Astoria Field, remaining undefeated (9-0, 6-0 state) in the process.

In the first game, Fargo Post 2 needed just one Dickinson error to break the game open.

Pitcher Tanner Ouellette got two quick outs in the top of the fifth, but Michael McChesney dropped a fly ball in center field, extending the inning. Fargo’s Mike Boutain reached second on the miscue, and Carter Thompson followed with a walk. Carter Sanden then brought home Boutain with a single to center, Thompson scored on a wild pitch and Mitch Christenson drove in Sanden for a 5-1 lead.

Dickinson (2-7, 0-4) was undone in the top of the sixth as well after Cam Jorda bobbled a ground ball at shortstop, allowing Thompson to score to make it 6-1. Sanden added a sacrifice fly to score Cole Birch and create the final margin.

The Roughriders had a chance to cut into the lead in the bottom of the sixth after Ouellette, Jorda and Shawn Steffan all reached base with no outs. Fargo pitcher Nate Hegstad then struck out McChesney, got Treven Hopfauf to pop up to second, and struck out Chase Ballard to end the inning.

Jorda led Dickinson’s offense in the first game, going 3 for 3 with two doubles. He led off the fourth with his second double, advanced to third on a passed ball and later scored on a single from McChesney, cutting Fargo’s lead to 2-1. Fargo had built a 2-0 lead in the second thanks to a two-run single from Birch.
Hegstad struck out six in his complete game victory. Ouellette took the loss after giving up nine hits and four walks. Only two of his seven runs allowed were earned.

Fargo struck early in the second game, scoring five runs off Jorda in the first inning, though only three were earned after McChesney dropped a second fly ball in center. Fargo scored twice more to build a 7-0 lead by the fourth inning before Dickinson got on the board.

Sam England drove in a pair of runs with a single, and Brock Messer recorded an RBI groundout to make it 7-3.

Fargo bounced right back, though, sending 10 batters to the plate and scoring six runs in the top of the sixth to go ahead 13-3, a sequence that included Tayler Parrett’s lead-off home run to left field.

Dickinson went down in order in the bottom of the fifth to end the game.

Fargo Post 2 7, Dickinson 1

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Nate Hegstad and Cole Birch. Tanner Ouellette, Mike Herauf and Chase Ballard.

W–Hegstad. L–Ouellette. HR–None.

Highlights: F, Carter Sanden 2 for 2, 2 RBI, 2 runs; Luke Sandy 2 for 4, run; Cole Birch 2 for 4, RBI; Nate Hegstad 7 IP, 7 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 6 K, 1 BB. D, Cam Jorda 3 for 3, 2 2B, run; Michael McChesney 1 for 3, RBI; Tanner Ouellette 2 for 3, Eli Jung 1 for 3, 2B.

Fargo Post 2 13, Dickinson 3

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Cameron Blazek and Chandler Ibach. Cam Jorda, Brock Messer and Eli Jung.

W–Blazek. L–Jorda. HR–F, Tayler Parrett.

Highlights: F, Tayler Parrett 3 for 3, HR, 2 RBI, run; Mike Boutain 2 for 3, 2 runs, 2 RBI. D, Sam England 2 for 2, 2 RBI; Austin Boswell 1 for 2, run; Brock Messer RBI.