Valley City scored four runs in the bottom of the second, and the Schwehr brothers combined on a four hitter as the Royals beat the Bismarck Representatives 7-4 in the West Region Championship game at Municipal Ball Park in Bismarck.
The Reps got on the board first with two runs in the top of the second One run came in on an error and one came in on a balk to give Bismarck the early 2-0 lead.
The Royals came back with four runs in the bottom of the inning. With the bases loaded and two out, Bryson Heck walked, scoring courtesy runner Brody Mueller to make it 2-1 Reps, and reload the bases. Corbyn Powell singled, scoring Andrew Sykora to tie the game at 2-2. A wild pitch scored Adam Shanenko gave the Royals a 3-2 lead. A walk to Trevor Fetsch reloaded the bases and Jack Samuelson was hit by a pitch which brought on Heck to make it 4-2 Valley City.
In the third, the Royals added another run. With courtesy runner Mueller at first after James Schwehr led off the inning with a single. Andrew Sykora laid down a nice bunt out in front of home plate. Reps catcher Cooper Johnson grabbed the ball and his throw was wild and went down the right field line. Mueller came all the way around to score to make it 5-2 Valley City.
Bismarck make things interesting with two runs in the top of the fifth inning. With the bases loaded and nobody out, Johnson hit into a fielder’s choice, forcing Liam Szymanski at second. Riley Gabbert scored to make it 5-3 with one out. When the throw from second got away, Karter Pearson scored to make it 5-4.
Valley City would get some breathing room with a couple of insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth. Shanenko led off the inning with a single to center field. Heck tried to bunt Shanenko over, the ball was fielded by the pitcher Jordan Merkel. His throw was into the runner and went down the right field line. Shanenko made it to third and Heck was safe at first. Heck was credited with a bunt single extending his hitting streak to seven games. Powell lined a single to left, scoring Shanenko to make it 6-4. Trevor Fetsch sacrificed the runners over, Samuelson was intentionally walked to load the bases for Parker Roelfsema. Roelfsema grounded to shortstop Rykowsky whose throw to second was dropped by second baseman Pearson for an error. Heck came in to score to make 7-4. James Schwehr forced Powell at home and Sykora grounded out to first to end the inning.
Will Schwehr, who came in to relieve brother James in the top of the sixth, would retire the Reps in the seventh. With runners at first and third, Johnson hit a ground ball to shortstop Samuelson, they got the runner at second and Fetsch’s relay nipped Johnson at first for the game ending double play. It was the third double play for the Royals on the night. Head coach Chase Carpenter said about his team after the game, “They fought their butts off tonight. We had a couple of hard days, we don’t have a lot of depth in general and especially pitching wise. For us to be able to manage that and come through with three pretty hard fought wins is definitely good to see. Obviously going into the state tournament as a number one seed is going to be a different feeling . I think they will probably enjoy playing at night instead of the first game of the day.”
Offensively, Adam Shanenko was 2 for 3 with two runs scored. Corbyn Powell was 2 for 4 with two RBI. Andrew Sykora was 2 for 4 with a run scored. Bryson Heck was 1 for 2 with two runs scored and an RBI and James Schwehr was 1 for 3. Courtesy runner Brody Mueller scored twice running for Schwehr. Carpenter says having the younger guys step up and help offensively has been a big part of the team’s success this year. “ Parker (Roelfsema) no matter what situation that guy is put in he comes through. The Reps walked Jack twice ahead of Parker the last time we played them, and he came through ever time and he did the same thing today. No matter what then situation is, he is the same level headed guy. He just goes up there and swings.” He adds, “Adam Shanenko, that kid is something. Every time he gets put in its a base hit seems like.”
On the mound, James Schwehr pitched five innings, allowed three hits, four runs, all of which were unearned. He walked six and struck out five. Will Schwehr allowed one hit in two innings of shutout relief and he struck out one. After the game, Will Schwehr talked about being able to come back and play another year of legion baseball and another year to play with his brother. “It’s fun playing with my brother. It’s the sport we really got to play together and its fun. I have a great time playing with him.”
The win is the Royals 14th in a run and they are 21-3 on the season. They will play the fourth seed out of the East, the Casselton Haymakers on Thursday, July 31st at Valley Process Technologies Field in Casselton. The two teams met back on June 23rd in Casselton and split the doubleheader. The Haymakers won the first game 3-2 and that was the last time the Royals lost. They started the 14 games winning streak by winning the second game 4-2. The field in Casselton is a turfed field and coach Carpenter says playing on turf is nothing new for this team. “We have played on a lot of turf so far this summer so that is definitely going to help out. Our pitchers are struggling a little bit throwing strikes on turf so that is something we need to figure out.”
The State Class A Legion Baseball Tournament starts on Thursday in Casselton. Devils Lake, the top team from the east, plays west fourth seed Bismarck Senators at 11:00 a.m. The Reps, the west second seed will play the Fargo Jets, the east’s third seed at 1:30 p.m. East second seed Kindred plays west third seed Minot at 4:00 p.m. The opening ceremonies will be at 7:00 p.m. with the final game of the game to start around 7:45 p.m.