BISMARCK -- When a pitcher earns 10 strikeouts, that is usually the story of the game. But when the same player also comes up with the big offensive plays for his team, perspectives change.
Dickinson High senior Eric Seiler's grand slam in the fifth inning overshadowed his 10 strikeouts in the Midgets' 7-6 West Region win over Bismarck St. Mary's on Friday in the first game of a doubleheader.
Seiler had six RBI for the Midgets but his game was even more impressive considering he was suffering from back spasms, Dickinson head coach Pete Dobitz said.
"He is our best," Dobitz said. "He was having back spasms and trying to tough it out."
A walk and two hits set the table for Seiler in the fourth when he hit a monster shot to right that put Dickinson up 6-2.
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The Midgets were fortunate to eke out the win, especially as the Saints looked to tie and perhaps win the game in the bottom of the seventh.
With a hit up the middle, St. Mary's scored one run to cut Dickinson's lead to one, but senior center fielder Ryan Jones threw a bullet to catcher Connor McNeilly at the plate to get the final out.
It was Jones' first real test of his arm since coming back from Tommy John elbow ligament reconstruction surgery.
"It's good to see the arm hold up," Dobitz said.
At the start of the game, Seiler struggled in walking four, but allowed just one run. Seiler ended up coming back to strike out the side.
"It shows how good he is when he's on," Dobitz said.
After Seiler's slam in the fourth, he came back in the fifth before reaching his pitch limit of 85.
Junior Taylor Dutchak came in, but ran into trouble as he had a blister on his middle finger. Senior Kyle Breen then came in and closed out the inning.
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"We need to communicate a little more," Dobitz said of not knowing about Dutchak's blister until after the fact.
The Midgets picked up their game-winning run in the sixth when Seiler hit a grounder to the right with runners on first and third. It was good enough to get the run home.
"He did the right thing," Dobitz said. "He stepped up even when he was in pain. He's gutsy."
The second game didn't go as smoothly for Dickinson as it lost the nonconference affair 10-1 in four innings. Junior Brodie Candrian knocked in the Midgets' lone run with a RBI single in the second.
Dickinson 7, Bismarck St. Mary's 6
DHS 011 041 0 -- 7 10 2
BSM 110 021 1 -- 6 7 1
Eric Seiler, Taylor Dutchak, Kyle Breen, Tevin Papineau and Conner McNeilly. Trent Bohan, Cole Winbauer, Cody Fiest and Nick Jangula. W-Seiler (1-0). L-Winbauer (0-1). HR-DHS, Sieler.
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Highlights: DHS, Seiler, 3-for-4, HR, 6 RBI, 4.1 IP, 10 K, 4 BB, 4 ER, Scott Gordon, RBI.
Bismarck St. Mary's 10, Dickinson 1
DHS 010 0 -- 1 3 3
BSM 440 2 -- 10 12 0
Grant Dvorak, Brodie Candrian and McNeilly. Travis Famais, Joe Klabo, Nick Jangula and Preston Tescher. W-Famais (1-0). L-Dvorak (1-0).
Highlights: DHS, Tescher 1-for-2, 2B. Candrian 1-for-2 RBI
Records: DHS 3-1, BSM 1-1
