The resilient Valley City Royals overcame a 4-0 first inning deficit for a come-from-behind 10-7 win over the Minot Metros in an elimination game at the 2025 Class A Legion Baseball tournament in Casselton.

Minot got six hits out of the first seven batters to jump on Royals starter James Schwehr. An RBI double by Remington Anderson scored Brock Thompson, who started the game with a single, to give the Metros a 1-0 lead. After a single by Gavin King, Jace Price singled to center to score Anderson to make it 2-0. Vigestad doubled, scoring both King and Price for a 4-0 Metro lead. Sundahl singled, but Schwehr got Iverson and TJ Hjelmstad to end the inning.

The Royals started the comeback in the bottom of the second inning. Parker Roelfsema led off with a single. Andrew Sykora doubled down the left field line to put runners at second and third. James Schwehr grounded out for the first out, then Will Schwehr walked to load the bases. Adam Shanenko hit a slow roller down the first base line. The ball came to a stop halfway down the line in fair territory for a base hit and an RBI as Roelfsema came in to score and re-load the bases. Bryson Heck struck out for the second out of the inning. Corbyn Powell reached on an error by shortstop T Iverson. Both Sykora and Will Schwehr scored to make it 4-3. Trevor Fetsch forced Shanenko at third to end the inning.

Valley City opened up a four run lead with five runs in the bottom of the third. A leadoff double by Jack Samuelson started the inning. Roelfsema had a productive out with a ground out to second, moving Samuelson to third. Sykora stayed hot with his fourth hit of the tournament. a single to left. scoring Samuelson to tie the game at 4-4. James Schwehr singled to right, moving Sykora to third. Will Schwehr walked to load the bases. Shanenko forced Schwehr at second, but beat the throw to first, scoring Sykora to give the Royals a 5-4 lead. Bryson Heck walked to load the base and Powell unloaded them with a double to the gap in right center to make it 8-4 Royals after three innings.

The Metros made things interesting with three runs in the top of the fourth. Thompson, who reached on an error to start the inning, went to third on L Balas’ double. Thompson scored on a wild pitch to make it 8-5 Valley City. Anderson walked then was forced at second by King, Balas scored to make it 8-6 Royals. With two outs and runners at first and third, Sundahl singled to right, scoring Price to make it 8-7. James Schwehr struck out Iverson to end the inning.

Valley City got some insurance runs in the bottom of the fourth, both with two out. Sykora walked, James Schwehr singled, then Will Schwehr was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Shanenko hit a come backer that glanced off the foot of the pitch, Johnson, and rolled out towards the second baseman. Shanenko beat it out for a single to make it 9-7. Heck reached on an error by Vigestad, scoring James Schwehr to make it 10-7.

James Schwehr then shut the door on the Metros, allowing no runs and three hits over the last three innings to send the Royals to day three of the tournament.

Andrew Sykora was 2 for 2 to lead the Royals. He scored three runs and drove in one. James Schwehr and Adam Shanenko were both 2 for 4. Schwehr scored twice and Shanenko drove in three. Corbyn Powell, Jack Samuelson and Parker Roelfsema were all 1 for 4. Powell drove in three runs while Samuelson and Roelfsema each scored once.Will Schwehr and Bryson Heck each scored once.

James Schwehr picked up his team leading ninth win of the year. He scattered 15 hits over seven innings. He allowed seven runs, five earned with three walks and three strikeouts.

Valley City, now 22-4 on the year, play either Devils Lake or the Fargo Jets in an elimination game at noon on Saturday.