Post 14 splits

It was a tale of two completely different styles of baseball in Tuesday's non-conference doubleheader between Jamestown and Groton, S.D.

The series started with an offensive marathon that left Groton edging out Jamestown in a slugfest 17-15.

The nightcap, however, was a much lower scoring affair that relied heavily on the guys on the hill.

But in that scenario, Jamestown prevailed.

Much to do with a solid outing from starter Brandon Gange, Jamestown (5-8) salvaged a series split with a 7-4 win in Game 2.

Groton 17, Jamestown 15

Tuesday's opener came down to a matter of inches.

In the top of the eighth inning Groton's Kalen Kjellson drove a pitch down the third-base line that went for an RBI double.

Post 14 coach Shane Schoeneberg admitted the call was close but he and Jamestown catcher Brady Anderson saw differently.

"I don't want to call anyone out but from what I saw it looked foul by a good inch or two," Schoeneberg said. "My catcher (Anderson) was right there and he said the same thing."

The close call went on to spark Groton to put up two more runs off Jamestown reliever Reid Monson and take a 17-14 lead into the home half of the eighth. Jamestown produced some offense in its final effort but it wasn't enough as Groton went on to win 17-15.

Both teams combined for 29 hits but the edge went to Groton with 17, seven of which coming in the final two innings. Post 14 had its chance to walk away with a win in the seventh, but Groton rallied to score four runs in the top of the seventh to tie the game at 14-all.

"We were still up-beat, we just didn't get enough hits in the top of the seventh," Schoeneberg said.

Jamestown pounded out 12 hits but only one came in the extra frame.

Groton reliever Josh Heupel only gave up two hits is his winning effort where he went four innings giving up two runs on two hits.

"We swung the bats real well but you have to have that killer instinct to put a team away," said Schoeneberg. "We just can't ever give up, especially offensively."

Ian Hogan, after returning to the lineup over the weekend from a six-game suspension, started things off for Jamestown with a two-run double in the bottom of the first. The two runs gave Post 14 its first lead of the game, but the Jamestown bats weren't even close to being done for the game.

Brady Anderson, Jordan Piatz and Jordan Lynch also drove in runs in the first to give Post 14 a 5-1 lead after one.

But Groton's offense started a rally in the second to overtake the lead.

Kjellenson paced a four-hit, six-run inning with a two-run single up the middle to pull Groton to within one run. Heath Giedt tied the game with a chopper to the shortstop and Dylan Hanson did the same to put Groton on top. Giedt reached safely on an error and eventually crossed home on a single from Matt Erickson to put Groton up 7-5.

Jamestown starter Piatz quickly bounced back from a shaky second inning with a scoreless third that paved the way for the offense to score four runs in the home half.

"He got hit around a little bit but a lot of them were groundball singles through the infield," said Schoeneberg of his starter. "As long as you're throwing ground balls you're doing your job."

Lynch tied the game with his second RBI of the game off a deep fly ball to right field while Danny Fischer and Monson each drove in their first runs of the game to give Post 14 a 9-7 lead by the inning's end.

Groton put up one run in the fourth but Jamestown came back with three in the bottom of the inning to extend its lead the four.

Groton didn't let the lead get any larger and in the top of the seventh it was a four-run rally that went on to extend the game into the eighth.

Kasey Gengler went 4 for 5 with two RBIs for Jamestown. Hogan, Piatz and Jordan Lynch also had two RBIs apiece.

Jamestown 7, Groton 4

Gange was nearly unhittable on the mound throughout most of Tuesday's nightcap

The hard-throwing righty sailed through his first five innings with seven strikeouts and only giving up one run on two hits.

"That was really good to see," Schoeneberg said. "I thought he kept them off balance all night with his fastball and curveball."

Groton got to Gange for three runs in the final two frames but the Jamestown offense had done its part to and Post 14 cruised to a 7-4 win to secure the split.

Gange went the distance striking out eight and allowing just four runs on five hits.

Groton got on the board first when Giedt knocked an RBI single to right field, but Jamestown then charged back with six runs over the next three innings.

Hogan continued to rack up the RBIs when he drove in Jamestown's first run in the first on a fielder's choice.

Fischer then gave Post 14 the lead in the second when he connected on a double to right field to score Tim Smith, who reached on an error to lead off the inning.

"I think we've been doing a pretty good job with situational hitting," said Schoeneberg. "That's stuff we work on everyday and that's stuff we improve on everyday."

Gange helped his own cause in the third when he crushed a solo shot over the left-center fence to spark what eventually turned into a four-run third inning.

Groton starter Sam Thorson struggled with his control following the homer.

Piatz, Smith and Chris Lane all scored in the third off wild pitches.

Monson drove in Jamestown's final run in the sixth on a fielder's choice to all but seal the deal for Post 14.

Jamestown's contest with Wahpeton, S.D. on Thursday has been canceled because Wahpeton dropped to Class B earlier in the year, making Sunday's doubleheader in Devils Lake Jamestown's next contest.

The Jamestown Junior American Legion baseball team split its first series of the season in Valley City.

Jamestown lost 7-6 in eight innings in the opener and followed with a 5-1 win in five innings in the nightcap.

Groton 17, Jamestown 15

Groton 160 120 43 -- 17 17 2

Jamestown 504 302 01 -- 15 12 2

Tyler Kolb, Josh Heupel (5) and Sam Thorson. Jordan Piatz, Reid Monson (7) and Brandon Anderson. W-Heupel. L-Monson. 2B: GRO-Zach Herron, Dexter Muldoon, Kalen Kjellson. JAM-Ian Hogan 2, Danny Fischer.

Jamestown 7, Groton 4

Groton 100 002 1 -- 4 5 2

Jamestown 114 001 X -- 7 6 4

Sam Thorson, Dextrer Muldoon (5) and Heath Giedt, Thorson (5). Brandon Gange and Brady Anderson. W--Gange. L--Thorson. 2B: JAM--Danny Fischer, Tim Smith.