Midgets, Blue Jays split
Jamestown played with fire for three innings, using the red-hot arm of catcher Joey Gebhardt and a double play to get out of jams. But Dickinson finally burned the Blue Jays with an unearned run in the fourth inning that paved the way for a 5-0 West Region win in Class A high school baseball Thursday at Jack Brown Stadium. Jamestown earned a split with a 7-5 non-region win in the back end of the doubleheader.By: By Chris Aarhus, The Jamestown Sun, The Jamestown Sun
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Jamestown played with fire for three innings, using the red-hot arm of catcher Joey Gebhardt and a double play to get out of jams.
But Dickinson finally burned the Blue Jays with an unearned run in the fourth inning that paved the way for a 5-0 West Region win in Class A high school baseball Thursday at Jack Brown Stadium. Jamestown earned a split with a 7-5 non-region win in the back end of the doubleheader.
“That’s kind of our style,” Dickinson coach Pete Dobitz said. “We’re gonna put pressure on the defense. When we got that first run on a double steal, it put a chink in their armor and then they kind of tightened up a little bit.
“But that’s the key. Try to score first and put pressure on them.”
The Blue Jays (15-9 overall, 5-5 region) managed to escape without any damage done in the early goings. Gebhardt threw out two runners in the first inning, starter Tyler Krenz struck out Jon Wanner to end the second and Jamestown converted a 6-4-3 double play to get out of trouble in the third.
The Jays weren’t so lucky in the fourth.
With runners on first and third, Dickinson coach Pete Dobitz elected for a double steal. Courtesy runner Austin Fitterer scored from third after Gebhardt’s throw went past both shortstop Danny Fischer and second baseman Nick Fuchs, who was filling in while Jake Stilwell rests a sore shoulder.
Jamestown coach Cory Anderson said part of the problem was his team’s inability to retire each inning’s leadoff batter. Dickinson put its leadoff on base in six of seven innings.
“We did fairly well in the first three innings of getting out of it,” Anderson said. “But they kept continuing to pressure in that way.”
Dickinson (12-8, 7-3) added two runs in the fifth and two in the sixth, the final run coming on an error.
“Five runs in a game in the West Region this year is probably gonna win you the game,” Anderson said. “If you can keep it under five, it gives you a legitimate chance.”
Dickinson starter Taylor Kraenzel didn’t cruise by any means but was far more efficient than his counterpart. He threw just 95 pitches in seven innings, scattering four hits while walking six and striking out four. Krenz threw 118, unofficially.
“All you can ask is for a guy to pound the zone with strikes,” Dobitz said. “He threw a few off-speed pitches, but primarily he was in and out with his fastball.”
Krenz allowed three earned runs on 10 hits, issuing two walks, plunking two and recording five strikeouts. The Jays were led at the plate by Fischer, who finished 1-for-2 with a double and two walks from his leadoff spot.
Dobitz said the win was especially important, considering Jamestown escaped Dickinson earlier this season with a 3-2 win.
“You get a split and with the fact that now you have a few more runs than they beat us by, you control the tiebreaker, so that’s huge,” he said.
The second game saw Jamestown get out to a 7-1 lead before Dickinson responded with four runs in the top of the fifth, though it wasn’t enough.
Landon Weiser picked up the win, allowing just one earned run in five innings. Brady Anderson logged three hits and three RBIs. The Jays committed eight errors.
Dickinson’s Austin Maus suffered the loss, and the Midgets got a 1-for-3 performance from Alex Huschka. He added a run scored and an RBI.
Jamestown hosts Williston (5-13, 1-8) at 11:30 a.m. Saturday.
Dickinson 5, Jamestown 0
DHS 000 122 0 — 5 10 1
JHS 000 000 0 — 0 4 3
Taylor Kraenzel and Brady Dutchak. Tyler Krenz and Joey Gebhardt.
W — Kraenzel; L — Krenz.
Highlights: DHS, Kraenzel 7 IP, 0 R, 4 H, 6 walks, 4 K, James Kary 2-4, R, RBI, Dutchak 2-2, HBP, R. JHS, Danny Fischer 1-2, 2 walks, 2B, Brady Anderson 0-2, 2 walks.
Jamestown 7, Dickinson 5
DHS 100 04 — 5 5 3
JHS 024 1x — 7 9 8
Austin Maus and Mark Erickson. Landon Weiser and Cody Benson.
W — Weiser; L — Maus.
Highlights: DHS, Alex Huschka 1-3, run scored, RBI; JHS, Brady Anderson 3-3, 3 RBIs, Ben Walz 2-3, 3 R, Riley Schaefer 2-4, R, RBI.
Sun sports writer Chris Aarhus can be reached at (701) 952-8460 or by email at caarhus@jamestownsun.com
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