Big sweep at home

Joey Gebhardt talks plainly about Jamestown Post 14’s offensive explosion in the fourth inning on Friday.

“It’s always good to have a big inning and get a big lead in the game,” he said.

But there’s no doubting the fireworks Post 14 put on display against Minot, using a seven-run fourth to down the Vistas 13-5 in the opening game of a league doubleheader at Jack Brown Stadium. Jamestown picked up the sweep with a 6-4 win in the second game.

“We’ve had some good practices and good coaching,” Gebhardt said.

Jake Stilwell and Ben Walz each had two hits including three RBIs from the latter, but it was the fourth that proved to be the deciding factor.

“I think a lot of it is guys are fresh,” Jamestown coach Shane Schoeneberg said. “Practice (Thursday) went pretty well. The guys know we don’t play for another week.”

Tied 5-5, Minot reliever Hunter Oothoudt walked Gebhardt and Nick Fuchs to start the fourth after Jamestown chased Vistas starter Alex Howell from the game. Danny Fischer was hit by a pitch to load the bases.

Longtime Minot coach Todd Larson elected to replace Howell with reliever Casey Ryan, and he didn’t get much help right away. What looked like a double-play ball to the shortstop went in and out of the glove of the second baseman and into right field, allowing Gebhardt and Fuchs to score.

“We screwed up plays I would expect a 13-year-old team to make,” said Larson, whose team only finished with two official errors to Jamestown’s four. “We’re still trying to find consistency.”

Brady Anderson had an RBI double, Jake Stilwell added a run-scoring single to follow and Jamestown sent eight batters to the plate before recording an out. Ben Walz also had a hit for Post 14, which held a 12-5 advantage after four.

Danny Fischer labored through seven innings, but got the win thanks to a tremendous offensive effort. He allowed three earned runs on eight hits, while walking two, hitting three and striking out two.

“I thought we’d figure out Daniel,” Larson said. “Obviously, we didn’t. He made some good pitches; we just didn’t play well.”

Anderson gave Post 14 its first home run of the season with a two-run blast in the fifth inning of the nightcap that put Jamestown in front for good.

The shot over the left-field fence put Jamestown up 5-4 and gave Anderson his only hit of the game, plating Riley Schafer. Later in the inning, Tyler Ukestad added a sacrifice fly that scored Jake Stilwell, who, like teammate Shaun Hogan, finished with two hits.

Minot broke a 3-3 tie when Austin Berntson drilled a homer over the center-field fence in the top of the fifth inning, leading to Jamestown’s response in the bottom half.

Schafer went all seven innings for the win, allowing two earned runs on seven hits while walking and hitting two, and striking out four. He got in a two-out, bases-loaded jam in the seventh, but coerced a ground out to second base to end the game.

Post 14, which improved to 4-6 in the statewide standings and 7-8 overall, plays at the Devils Lake tournament on Friday.

Minot drops to 3-3 in the state and 5-9 overall.

Jamestown 13, Minot 5

Minot Vistas 032 000 0 — 5 8 2

Jamestown 401 710 0 — 13 6 4

Alex Howell, Hunter Oothoudt (3), Casey Ryan (4), Micah Holmen (5) and Kolton Larson. Danny Fischer and Joey Gebhardt.

W-Fischer; L-Howell.

Highlights: M, Brock Krueger 2-4, R, Marcus Quist 2-3, R. J, Jake Stilwell 2-4, 2 R, RBI, Ben Walz 2-3, walk, 3 RBIs, Danny Fischer 0-1, 3 HBP, 2 R; Brady Anderson 1-1, 2B, 2 R, RBI; Joey Gebhardt 0-2, 2 walks.

Jamestown 6, Minot 4

Minot Vistas 012 010 0 — 4 7 1

Jamestown 110 130 x — 6 9 5

Ben Magnuson, Ethan Stein (6) and Dallas Klassen. Riley Schafer and Shaun Hogan.

W-Schafer; L-Magnuson.

HR - M, Austin Bernstein. J, Brady Anderson.

Highlights: M, Shaun Hogan 2-2, walk, SB, Jake Stilwell 2-3, 2B, R, Brady Anderson 1-4, R, 2 RBIs, Tyler Ukestad 1-2, 2B, R, SAC.

Sun sports writer Chris Aarhus can be reached at (701) 952-8462 or by email at caarhus@jamestownsun.com

Tags: sports, legion, baseball