Mandan streaks into title tilt

By Sun Staff

June 05, 2010 at 6:02 AM

Mandan and Bismarck Century will meet for the second time in a week, this time for the state Class A championship.

Jay Flaa pitched Mandan over Bismarck 3-1 at Memorial Ballpark, while Century rallied out of an early 3-0 deficit to defeat Fargo South 5-4, getting the game-winner in the top of the seventh inning.

Century 5, South 4

Dan Bihrle gave the Patriots six strong innings and then his team got him the go-ahead run in the top of the seventh inning. He allowed four runs on six hits with five strikeouts.

Tied 4-all after six, Century broke the tie with the eventual winning run and earned a spot in the state title game.

Carson Wentz went 2 for 3 with an RBI double for the Patriots. Tate Leapaldt and Bihrle also had two hits for the Patriots (21-11).

Erik Ringsak worked a clean seventh inning for the save.

Jamestown College recruit went the distance on the mound for the Bruins (26-5), striking out eight batters, but was saddled with the loss.

Eric Moe had a 3-run double for the Bruins in the bottom of the first. They made it 4-1 in the fifth on an RBI single by Tyler Kellen.

South will play Bismarck in the third-place game at 4:30 p.m.

Mandan 3, Bismarck 1

Flaa outdueled Austin Zorn as Mandan continued its late-season hot streak by defeating Bismarck 3-1 in an all West Region semifinal.

The Braves scored two in the first and one more in the second and never trailed.

Flaa was lights out on the mound, allowing just one hit and one run. He did issue six walks, but also fanned six Bismarck hitters.

Reid Jungling led the Braves offensively, going 2 for 3 with a double and one run scored. Aaron Janz also had two hits, a double and a run scored. Steve Serr and Brett Bryan had RBIs.

Zorn fanned 10 Mandan hitters over six innings, but was saddled with the loss. He allowed seven hits and walked two batters.

Mike Hausauer had the lone hit for Bismarck.

Red River 11, Devils Lake 6

Grand Forks Red River and West Fargo won consolation games and will meet today in the fifth-place tilt.

Ryne Anderson went 2 for 3 with three RBIs for the Roughriders, who routed Devils Lake 11-6. Joseph Conneran also had 3 RBIs and Jacob LaDouceur was 2 for 3.

Brian Lillemoen went the first six innings on the mound for Red River.

John Traynor had three of the Firebirds' nine hits.

Matthew Swanson was collared with the loss.

West Fargo 9, Williston 0

Tanner Dahl was the story for West Fargo.

Dahl blanked Williston on just four hits, while striking out 10 as the Packers toppled Williston 9-0.

Austin Dillard led West Fargo's 10-hit attack with 3 hits in 4 at bats. Matt Strahm and Bryce Jorgenson had 2 RBIs each.

Williston and Devils Lake will meet in the seventh-place game today at 11:30 a.m.

State Class A Baseball Tournament

At Mandan Memorial Ballpark

Consolation games

Grand Forks Red River 11, Devils Lake 6

Red River 002 450 0 -- 11 10 1

Devils Lake 030 001 2 -- 6 9 2

Brian Lillemoen, Jakoby Ripplinger (7) and Taylor Steen, Erick Huderle (6). Matthew Swanson, John Traynor (4), Josh Janzen (5), Nathan Mertens (7) catcher not available. W--Lillemoen. L--Swanson.

West Fargo 9, Williston 0

Willston 000 000 0 -- 0 4 2

West Fargo 003 105 x -- 9 10 0

Casey Axtman, Josh Solem (4), Tyler Eiken (5) and Cole Marquez. Tanner Dahl and Tucker Bucholz. W--Dahl. L--Axtman.

Semifinals

Mandan 3, Bismarck 1

Bismarck 100 000 0 -- 1 1 0

Mandan 210 000 x -- 3 7 0

Austin Zorn and Sam Ingemansen. Jay Flaa and Steven Serr. W--Zorn. L--Flaa.

Bismarck Century 5, Fargo South 4

Century 001 003 1 -- 5 8 0

South 300 010 0 -- 4 6 3