LAMOURE, N.D. — The LaMoure Post 19 Athletics American Legion baseball team put together a dominant season that saw them make it all the way to the 2025 North Dakota Class B American Legion baseball state title game.

“I knew we’d have a solid team,” Athletics head coach J.R. Thielges said. “I didn’t know if we’d be second place in state good, at the beginning of the year. (We) kind of had some ups and downs, just got some good pitching at the right time in the tournaments, especially against Lisbon in our district tournament, just kept it rolling from there.”

The Post 19 squad finished the year at 22-12 before losing 10-0 to Thompson Post 181 in the state title game on Aug. 4.

“It stung a little bit. We came up short against them in high school baseball,” Athletics senior Owen Lesko said. “So we really had a good shot of competing against them both times we played. We just couldn’t put it together.”

During the game, Post 181 was able to put the game out of reach with a seven-run third inning.

“We kind of started to run out of some pitching,” Thielges said. “The kid that started, Logan Potts, I think that was his fourth game pitching all year and maybe that’s my fault that (I) didn’t get him more reps up on the mound. But he’s a pretty solid catcher and we like to have him behind the plate most of the time. He just had trouble throwing strikes in that third inning and when you walk players on a good team like that, eventually they get a hit and score a bunch of runs. That’s what happened.”

The LaMoure/Litchville-Marion/Edgeley high school baseball team also lost to the Tommies in the Class B state title game on May 31.

“They’re a good team but so are we at the same time … they got the better of us,” Lesko said.

The A’s had to bounce back from a loss to the Post 181 squad with a win over Park River to get the rematch against their rivals.

“I was proud of how the guys performed. Gunner (Thielges) threw a heck of a game, kept the ball down and didn’t give up many hits,” Thielges said. “We played solid defense behind him. Fortunately, we were able to get a few clutch hits late in the game that kind of sparked us and gave us the lead and we were able to hold on.”

During the earlier loss to Post 181, there was a scary moment when Post 181’s Dex Avdem collapsed on the field and left in an ambulance after he had to have a defibrillator administered. Thielges said it was very difficult for both teams to refocus and concentrate on the game after Avdem left the field.

“That was crazy. I don’t think I’ve ever experienced anything like that,” Lesko said. “When it happened, I think baseball stopped completely. It was the last thing on everybody’s mind. I mean, being there watching it happen, it was crazy. I think all of us on the sideline were just hoping that he would be alright, trying to go back to playing baseball after that was a little difficult. But once you step in the box it flushes away from your mind but it’s still there. The thoughts never really go away, especially after you see him leave on an ambulance and see all his family around.”

On July 13, Post 19 lost to Glenwood Lowry (Minnesota) 9-4 before responding with an 8-1 win over Wahpeton the next day. The win over Wahpeton kick-started a nine-game winning streak for the Athletics.

Thielges said late in the season, his team’s leaders stepped up and helped the team believe more that they could have a very successful season.

“I think right before the Fourth of July, we played Lisbon at home, we were able to beat them,” Thielges said. “… I think … maybe gave us confidence for the rest of the year and confidence that we could beat that good Lisbon team.”

This season, Post 19 had five players hit above .300, including Lesko, who hit .370 with nine doubles, two triples and 21 RBIs.

“I felt I played alright. I wish I probably could’ve done better but when it came down to it I feel like I was ready to step up and make some plays to help my team win,” Lesko said. “I think a lot of other guys also played really well this summer.”

On the mound, Post 19 was dominant with five players with an ERA below 3.00 and a team ERA of 2.48. Thielges said Gunner Thielges was his team’s most accurate pitcher, while Mason Warcken had the most strikeouts. He said Lesko consistently let his defense work behind him and Colby Thielges located his pitches very well.

“Early in the year, we were having trouble throwing strikes,” Thielges said. “Later in the year, we were able to throw more strikes. Life is a lot easier when you’re working ahead in the count and the hitter doesn’t know what’s coming then and when you’re ahead in the count.”

This summer was an incredibly busy one for Lesko, who said he was in the middle of the state golf tournament when the A’s season started.

“It helps me out a ton personally because it knocks the dust off, you don’t have to start fresh right when the summer ball starts, coming in with that spring baseball definitely helps out with hitting and fielding wise,” Lesko said.

Thielges said his team is only losing three or four players from this year’s roster: Blase Isaacson, Jarin Ragan, Jake Kramer and possibly Gunner Thielges.

“I think (it) definitely made us realize that we can do a lot, a lot of damage against other teams,” Lesko said. “I know next year we got a pretty good group coming up, pretty excited for next year. We lost a couple guys that definitely will hurt a little bit but we still know we should be right back in the mix next year.”