Heart-breaker: Post 14 falls two outs short

MANDAN — Two outs away from advancing at the Class A state Legion tournament, Jamestown Post 14 couldn’t contain Minot’s hard-hitting lineup anymore.

Held at bay by Jamestown starter Riley Schafer for eight innings, the Vistas got a run-scoring double from Ethan Stein and pinch-hitter Hunter Oothoudt followed with an RBI double to eliminate Jamestown with a 3-2 win Thursday at Veterans Memorial Ballpark.

“We told Hunter and Sheldon (Marmon) a couple of innings before to get ready and take some swings in case they needed to pinch-hit,” longtime Minot coach Todd Larson said. “He got it done. Hunter came up with a big one.”

It was a crushing loss for Post 14, which had its season come to an end after allowing just seven total earned runs and getting three complete games from Joey Gebhardt, Danny Fischer and Schafer.

“I really think that might have been their best games all year,” Jamestown coach Shane Schoeneberg said.

Minot trailed 2-1 after Jamestown scored a run in each of the fifth and seventh innings. Gebhardt scored on a wild pitch to tie the game, and Post 14 took the lead with Schafer’s RBI-single to left field, scoring Ben Walz.

However, it wasn’t enough as Minot hitter Micah Holmen was hit by a pitch and sacrificed over by Kolton Larson to start the ninth. The Vistas’ big hits followed.

“Riley battled his butt off out there,” Schoeneberg said. “I was hoping we could get a couple more (on offense), but I don’t think I could ask for a better effort from Riley.”

Schafer certainly drew Larson’s praise.

“He never threw the same speed,” Larson said. “He changed speeds well. You’ve got to tip your hat to him.”

Schafer allowed three runs on eight hits, walking two and hitting two. He struck out three.

Minot starter Austin Berntson kept Jamestown from any big innings. He also went the distance, surrendering two runs on five hits. He walked six, hit one and struck out five.

In Post 14’s opening game of the day, Fargo Post 2 used a dominant effort by ace Casey Quinlan on the mound to advance past the opening round 5-1.

Quinlan, who twirled a no-hitter at Jamestown a week before the state tournament, was untouchable through the first four innings, striking out 11 hitters. Jamestown made better connection in the fifth and beyond, only striking out twice more in the nine-inning affair. Quinlan allowed only two hits.

For Jamestown, it was a stronger performance than the doubleheader vs. Post 2 at home. Jake Stilwell scored on an error in the second inning after a base hit to put Jamestown up 1-0 early.

Post 2 answered with two runs in the third and the score stayed 2-1 until Fargo came up with two more in the seventh and one in the eighth. Nick Salentine led the Post 2 hitting attack with a pair of doubles.

Jamestown starter Danny Fischer may not have been as dominant as Quinlan, but he was no-less effective. Through six innings, he allowed just two runs on three hits. Post 2 got to him in the seventh, and his final line was three earned runs allowed on seven hits in nine innings.

Jamestown loses two of its top arms in Fischer and Kasey Gengler, but the rest of the team is eligible to return next summer. Schoeneberg indicated he’s looking forward to what the future brings.

“We return a big core next year,” Schoeneberg said. “I don’t think they realize how good they can be. I think they’re a little naive about that.”

Fargo Post 2 5, Jamestown 1

Jamestown 010 000 000 — 1 2 5

Fargo Post 2 002 000 21x — 5 7 2

Danny Fischer and Brady Anderson. Casey Quinlan and Max Teschendorf.

W—Quinlan. L—Fischer.

HR: F, Aaron Green.

Highlights: J, Jake Stilwell 1-4, R, Riley Schafer 3 walks, Fischer 1-3, HBP. F, Quinlan 9 IP, R, 0 ER, 2 H, 3 walks, 2 HB, 14 K, Nick Salentine 2-4, RBI, R.

Minot 3, Jamestown 2

Jamestown 000 010 100 — 2 5 0

Minot 010 000 002 — 3 8 2

Riley Schafer and Joey Gebhardt. Austin Berntson and Kolton Larson.

W—Berntson. L—Schafer.

Highlights: J, Schafer 2-5, RBI, Gebhardt 1-3, R, SB. M, Marcus Quist 2-4, Ethan Stein 1-4, R, RBI, Hunter Oothoudt 1-1, RBI, 2B.

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

Tags: sports, legion, baseball