Dickinson High starting pitcher Briana Farnsworth and Minot Ryan starter Katie Backes picked up right where Mother Nature left off Friday afternoon at Gress Complex.
The pitchers went head-to-head, raining down strikes in Game 1 of the doubleheader. The Lions edged the Midgets 1-0.
Backes struck out eight batters and accounted for 15 total outs while only allowing three hits in her complete-game shutout. She was 1-for-3 at the plate and walked once.
"She (Backes) brought her stuff and had a fairly good game," Dickinson head coach Bill Butterfield said. "It was a pitchers dual, I'm just a little disappointed we didn't hit very well. We had been hitting the ball real well."
Failing to advance a base-runner past second during the first three innings, eighth-grader Mackee Hoffman recorded an infield single in the bottom of the fourth which was followed by a Backes walk that sent senior Danielle O'Donnell to first.
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A sacrifice bunt by second baseman Kelsey LaFond advance O'Donnell and Hoffman to second and third base, respectively. But Dickinson was unable to cross home plate as senior left fielder Jessica Pachl struck out looking.
The only run of the game came in the top of the fourth when Ryan's Drew Awalt reached on a bases-loaded fielder's choice that scored Lexi Klein.
The Midgets, however, didn't go away without a fight.
In the bottom of the seventh, LaFond singled to center and advanced to third off some heads-up base running.
It was as close as Dickinson would come though as pinch-hitter Madi Steier grounded out to end the game.
Ryan 13, Dickinson 11
Hoffman hit an inside-the-park home run off Lexi Klein in the bottom of the second inning, which sparked a barrage of runs for both squads.
Dickinson and Ryan each scored six runs in the third inning before Backes temporarily cooled down the Midgets.
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The game was tied 7-7 at the top of the fourth but Ryan scored one in the fourth, two in the fifth and three in the sixth to slip past Dickinson and complete the Friday afternoon sweep of the Midgets.
MR 000 100 00 -- 1 5 1
DHS 000 000 00 -- 0 3 2
Katie Backes and Morgan Abel. Brianna Farnsworth and Mackee Hoffman. W-Backes. L-Farnsworth.
MR 106 123 0 -- 13 12 5
DHS 016 003 1 -- 11 10 5
Lexi Klien, Katie Backes (3) and Morgan Abel. Lafond, Farvsworth (7) and Mackee Hoffman. W-Backes. L-Abel. HR-DHS, Mackee Hoffman.
Highlights: DHS, Danielle O'Donnell 3-for-5, Kelsey LaFond 2-for-3.
