Minot wins Class A Legion title

Minot is again the state Legion champion.

The Vistas banged out 14 hits to beat Bismarck 8-5 in the Class A championship game on Sunday, finishing the tournament with a 4-1 record and winning the state title for the fourth time in five years.

Trevor Gust and Derek Sommerville each went 3 for 4 for Minot. Gust hit a solo home run and Somerville had two RBIs as Minot improved to 34-17.

Ben Magnuson worked into the eighth inning for the Vistas, who advance to the Central Plains Regional in Blue Spring, Mo., beginning Thursday.

Erik Peterson and Carson Wentz each went 3 for 5 for Bismarck, which finished the season with 40 wins. Kevin Sanford had two hits, including a homer for the Govs.

Bismarck 7, Williston 1

The Governors earned a spot in the winner-take-all game with Minot by ousting Williston 7-1 for their 40th win of the summer.

Austin Zorn was nearly flawless on the mound, allowing just two hits in a complete-game victory for Bismarck. Zorn walked three, hit one and struck out two in the win.

The Governors scored in five of their eight at bats, outhitting the Keybirds 13-2. Tate Leapaldt carried the load offensively, going 4 for 5, including a two-run home run. Peterson, Cole Winbauer and Jon Feist added two hits each.

Williston’s lone run came in the top of the first. The Keybirds finished the season .500 at 22-22.

Bismarck 6, Mandan 4

Rain interrupted play a handful of times on Saturday, but Bismarck beat the rain drops and Mandan 6-4 in a loser-out game to stay alive.

Down 4-3 after seven innings, the Govs scored three times in the top of the eighth and held on to win. Alex Deyle got the win in relief for Bismarck. He was also 2 for 5 with an RBI. Leapaldt was a team-best 3 for 4, while Peterson had two hits, including a two-run triple. Kevin Sanford also had two hits.

Brent Stoltz had three of Mandan’s 10 hits. Sam Salveson was 2 for 5 with a double and three RBIs.

Williston 6, Minot 3

Rain forced the second game on Saturday to be halted in the top of the ninth inning with Williston up 6-2.

The two teams came back Sunday afternoon and the Keybirds held on for a 6-4 win, advancing to face Bismarck.

The lost was Minot’s first of the tournament, and sent them into the decisive championship game.

Williston scored all six of its runs in the bottom of the second inning, highlighted by Evan Conlin’s two-run single. Austin Grundstad had three of Williston’s eight hits.

Four Keybird pitchers limited the Vistas to just four hits. Starter Conner Long worked the first six innings to get the win.

Class A State American Legion Tournament

At Bismarck

Saturday’s games

Semifinals

Bismarck 6, Mandan 4

Bismarck 001 101 030 — 6 13 1

Mandan 001 021 000 — 4 10 0

Zach Lardy, Alex Deyle (6) and Sam Ingemansen; Andy Conlon, Sam Salveson (8), Jordy Wenstrom (8) and Steve Serr. W — Deyle; L — Wenstrom.

Highlights: Bismarck: Kevin Sanford 2-for-4; Alex Deyle 2-for-5, RBI; Erik Peterson 2-for-4, triple, 2 RBI; Tate Leapaldt 3-for-4. Mandan: Brent Stoltz 3-for-5; Salveson 2-for-5, double, 3 RBIs; Brett Bryan 2-for-3, double.

Records: Bismarck 39-9; Mandan 36-22.

Williston 6, Minot 3

Minot 010 000 101 — 3 4 1

Williston 060 000 00x — 6 8 2

Alex Schaefer, Dallas Klassen (2) and Trevor Gust; Conner Long, Marcus Fearing (7) Austin Grundstad (9), C.J. Vinger (9) and Oliver Sogard. W — Long; L — Schaefer.

Highlights: Minot — Darin Back 2-for-4, RBI; Derek Somerville 1-for-3, two walks, RBI; Alex Fornshell 1-for-3, double. Williston — Grundstad 3-for-5; Vinger 1-for-4, double; Jon Westphal 2-for-3, RBI; Evan Conlin 2-for-3, 2 RBIs.

Records: Williston 22-21; Minot 33-17.

Sunday’s games

Bismarck 7, Williston 1

Williston 100 000 000 — 1 2 3

Bismarck 101 020 21x — 7 13 3

Austin Zorn and Nick Jangula; C.J. Vinger, Cory Vinger (6) and Oliver Sogard. W—Zorn; L—C.J. Vinger. HR—Bismarck, Tate Leapaldt.

Highlights: Bismarck: Alex Deyle 1-for-4, double; Erik Peterson 2-for-5; Leapaldt 4-for-5, 2 RBIs, HR; Cole Winbauer 2-for-5; Jon Feist 2-for-5, RBI; Jangula 1-for-3, RBI, double; Zorn 9 IP, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 H, 3 BB, 1 HB, 2 SO.

Records: Bismarck 40-9; Williston 22-22.

Championship

Minot 8, Bismarck 5

Minot 100 201 040 — 8 14 2

Bismarck 100 101 101 — 5 10 1

Ben Magnuson, Kris Winkels (8), Jordan Rubbelke (9) and Trevor Gust; Kevin Sanford, Tate Leapaldt (6), Alex Deyle (8) and Sam Ingemansen. W—Winkles; L—Leapaldt. HR—Minot, Gust. Bismarck, Sanford.

Highlights: Minot—Dan Himmerick 2-for-4, RBI; Darin Back 2-for-4, RBI; Derek Somerville 3-for-4, 2 RBIs; Trevor Gust 3-for-4, RBI, HR. Bismarck—Erik Peterson 3-for-5, double; Carson Wentz 3-for-5, 3 RBIs; Sam Ingemansen 1-for-3, double; Sanford 2-for-4, 2 RBIs, HR.

Records: Minot 34-17; Bismarck 40-10.

Tags: legion baseball, sports