Shutout does the trick

On a cold, windy day at Southside Municipal Ballpark, Eric Seiler was red hot.

The Dickinson High junior tossed a sparkling one-hit shutout in helping the Midgets down Bismarck High 3-0 in West Region baseball action on Thursday. Bismarck earned a split by winning the nonconference nightcap 15-10.

"I guess I was anxious to get out on the mound," said Seiler, who made his first start of the season. "I threw the fastball and I got 'em with the deuce a couple times. Everything was just going for me."

Seiler breezed through the first six innings, allowing just three runners to reach base, none of which made it to second. However, he ran into trouble in the top of the seventh as Bismarck loaded the bases with one out.

Bismarck senior Tyler Peterson flew out to right field to start the inning, but Alex Deyle walked and Sam Ingemansen reached on error. Then, Bismarck hitter Jon Feist broke up the no-hitter with a smack up the middle that Dickinson second baseman Stephen Laylock was able to snag, though he had to dive to get it and couldn't make the throw in time.

With the bases loaded, Dickinson coach Pete Dobitz called a meeting on the mound.

"Sometimes, kids hang their heads a little bit after the no-hitter's gone," Dobitz said. "I said (to the kids) 'we're still in a ball game to win. The bases are loaded and we're ahead 3-0. They hit a grand slam and we're behind 4-3. Stay focused and see if we can get a ground ball and a double play,' and what the heck? It happened."

Bismarck sophomore Austin Zorn hit a dribbler back to Seiler, who fired it home to catcher Connor McNeilly for the first out and McNeilly threw it to first baseman Ross Kovacs for the game-ending double play.

In the end, the seven-inning effort saw Seiler allow one hit while walking three and striking out six for the win.

"Eric's kind of tricky fast," Dobitz said. "It doesn't look like he's throwing very hard out there sometimes, but he brings it to the plate pretty good."

According to Seiler, the Midgets didn't exactly follow the unwritten baseball rule of not bringing up the no-hit bid while it's still alive.

"The guys kept saying 'you've got a no-hitter going' and I kept telling them to knock on wood," Seiler said.

Nonetheless, Seiler said he met his goal and that's what is important.

"It doesn't matter, as long as we got the win," Seiler said.

Bismarck starter Zach Jacobson took the loss, allowing two runs on three hits in four innings of work. Bismarck coach Troy Olson said Seiler hit his spots well, keeping the Demons (1-3 West Region) guessing.

"He did a nice job of hitting the outside corner," Olson said. "He was keeping us off balance. Credit him for that effort. He did a great job."

The Midgets put their first run across in the second inning when Tommy Peters, who singled to get on, made it to third on a two-base error and eventually scored on an error by the catcher.

Dickinson added a run in the third inning when Laylock scored from third after watching the third baseman elect to throw it to first on a groundout. The final run came in the fifth when Stephen Laylock drilled a single to left field, plating Seiler, who walked to lead off the inning.

Dickinson stayed unbeaten in the West at 4-0 and hosts Minot at 4:30 p.m. today. Dickinson and Minot were picked to finish first and second, respectively, in the preseason coaches poll.

Bismarck 14, Dickinson 10 (6 innings)

The Demons held a 10-3 lead going into the bottom of the fifth and needed just three outs to close out the game.

Dickinson had other ideas.

The Midgets scored seven runs and took the game into extra innings where Bismarck finally closed the door with five runs in the top of the sixth.

The Demons (4-4) scored five runs in the fourth and two more in the fifth. Dickinson sent 13 batters to the plate in the bottom of the fifth and a single to right field by Connor McNeilly drove in Ross Kovacs and Eric Seiler to tie the game at 10.

Both pitching staffs struggled as there were seven pitchers.

The win went to Bismarck reliever Jon Feist while Taylor Dutchak took the loss for the Midgets, who fell to 6-2 overall. Dickinson pitchers combined to issue 13 walks while Bismarck gave seven free passes including a hit batsman.

Dickinson 3, Bismarck 0

Bismarck 000 000 0 -- 0 1 4

Dickinson 011 010 x -- 3 5 2

Zach Jacobson, Austin Zorn (5) and Sam Ingemanson. Eric Seiler and Connor McNeilly. W - Seiler. L - Jacobson.

Highlights: B, Jon Feist 1-3. D, Seiler 7 IP 0 R, H, 3 BB, 6 K; Stephen Laylock 2-for-3, run scored, RBI; Tommy Peters 2-for-3.

Bismarck 14, Dickinson 10 (6 innings)

Bismarck 300 525 -- 14 8 1

Dickinson 201 070 -- 10 10 3

Austin Zorn, Sam Ingemanson (4), Trevor Johnson (5), Jon Feist (5) and Jack Pieper. Caleb Burgard, Connor McNeilly (3), Taylor Dutchak (4) and Brandon Lange. W - Feist. L - Dutchak.

Highlights: B, Alex Deyle 3-for-4, 4 runs, SB, 2 RBI, BB; Feist 2-for-4, 2B, BB, 3 RBI. D, Burgard 3-for-5, 3B; McNeilly 2-for-3, 3 RBI.