FARGO — West Fargo pitcher Evan Krogen snared a groundball to the right side and tossed it to first base to record the final out of the Jim Pettersen F-M Invite championship game.
Krogen cycled back to the mound, where he found his catcher Ryan Camerillo. The Patriots battery shook hands following West Fargo’s 7-0 shutout win over Tri-City Red in the “The Pete” title game on Saturday at Starion Bank Field.
“It was awesome, the fellas had a good day at the ballpark,” Krogen said. “We hit, we play defense, we win. It was fun.”
Krogen worked six innings, allowing six hits with no walks and three strikeouts. The southpaw said his offspeed was effective and the Patriots defense proved tough.
“He was disgusting,” Patriots designated hitter Hudson Dinger said of Krogen. “Mixing it well, blowing by ‘em when he needs to, he’s a really good pitcher.”
Dinger opened the game and struck out one for West Fargo in the first inning before Krogen took over. Dinger doubled twice and drove in two runs for the Patriots in a three-hit game.
West Fargo last won “The Pete” championship in 2022.
West Fargo led 3-0 after the first inning. Shortstop Jett Collins pinged an RBI single to left field to score Landon Zink, who led off with a double.
Dinger roped a single to center field to score Collins and West Fargo scored another run on a balk.
“They had a lot of different pitch speeds,” Dinger said. “I was just trying to stay through the ball and not change my approach.”
Right fielder Cooper Fuchs hit a sacrifice fly in the third inning to extend the lead to four runs. Camarillo followed with an RBI single to center field and another crossed on an error to make it 6-0.
Patriots third baseman Max Zenker saved a would-be double with a diving grab towards the third-base line in the fourth inning.
Dinger drove in another run on a double to left-center field in the bottom of the fourth.
“Whatever the players want to accomplish, they’re going to accomplish,” West Fargo head coach Jordan Rheault said. “They’re very good and very talented.”
Zink and Collins both had two hits for the Patriots (20-7).
Tri-City Red third baseman Nate Edelman hit 2-for-3. Calvin Anderson struck out four in 3-⅓ innings of relief.
The Patriots defeated Fargo Post 400 8-0 in five innings in the semifinals on Sunday. Trey Husar hit a walk-off double late Saturday night to power West Fargo past Shakopee 9-8 to win the Young Field pool.
Tri-City (9-6-1) advanced to the title game out of the Matson pool after Fargo Post 2 became ineligible after Saturday’s second game was moved to Sunday.
Per American Legion baseball rules, no team can play no more than two games on a given day. Post 2 would have had to win two games Sunday to advance to the title game.
The Patriots battle Moorhead at 7 p.m. Tuesday, July 1, at Young Field in West Fargo. The team said they have to continue to build off his tournament win.
“Whoever our opponent is, we just have to keep playing how we are,” Rheault said. “Doesn’t matter who’s doing what, just keep putting together tough games.”
“Looking down the road, (we’re) looking at winning the state title,” Krogen added. “This is obviously a step in that direction.”
After graduating from North Dakota State University, Haugland joined the Forum in January of 2023. Readers can reach him at 701-241-5508 or by emailing ahaugland@forumcomm.com