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SURREY - When Rolette first baseman Nic Pfeifer took the field Wednesday against Cando, he did so with a heavy heart.

Pfeifer's grandfather, Dennis, who attended many of Nic's games, died unexpectedly of a blood clot a week earlier. Nic was not able to visit his grandfather in the hours leading up to his passing.

"Baseball was his favorite sport," said Pfeifer after the game. "This tournament is for him."

Putting his emotions aside, Pfeifer batted 3 for 4 with a double and three RBIs, while adding a walk-off home run to lead Rolette in an 11-1 win in five innings in the first round of the American Legion Baseball Class B Section 5 Tournament at Surrey High School's baseball field.

Pfeifer scored in all but one of his plate appearances as Rolette moved into today's 3 p.m. winner's bracket game against Surrey.

"I knew he wanted to come out and play well and he did," Rolette head coach Tory Danielson said. "He didn't put too much pressure on himself and he went out and had a great game."

The outcome was in question until Rolette scored six runs on five hits in the bottom of the fifth inning. Rolette third baseman Josh Casavant got things going with a one-out double and scored on a wild pitch and Jaden Pfeifer drove in two runs with a two-out triple. Ian Keller followed with a two-run home run before Nic Pfeifer blasted a ball well over the fence in left center field to end the game.

"Back-to-back home runs - we haven't done that all year," Danielson said.

Rolette starter Garrett Thompson earned the win, allowing one run and four hits while striking out eight in five innings.

Cando took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning when Steve Hausman drove in Tanner Komrosky with a single. Cando starter Derek Henke was tagged with the loss as he gave up 12 hits and 11 earned runs.

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Surrey 10, Burlington 0 (5)

Surrey head coach Jeremy Feller could not have asked for a better start from his team.

Sparked by Brady Schwan's two-run home run, the Blue Sox scored seven runs, all with two outs, in the first inning to cruise by Burlington 10-0 in five innings in a Section 5 opening-round game.

"We talked about getting runs early and often," Feller said.

The early lead allowed Feller to pull starting pitcher and ace, Josh Engel, after one inning of work and save him for a later date. Engel struck out two and walked one before Aaron Gebur filled in for him to start the second inning. Gebur allowed one hit and struck out five in four innings.

"After the (second) inning, Gebur pitched pretty well," Feller said. "I don't know if he was ready to pitch so early, but when he settled in he was good."

Schwan's home run was his sixth of the season and used a little help from the wind to find its way over the left field fence.

"I was just looking for something I could drive," Schwan said. "It seemed like it helped get us started."

Surrey finished with 12 hits, including a 4-for-4 outing from Gebur.

Burlington starter Cory Cramer allowed nine earned runs in the loss.

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Minot Metros 20, Bottineau 2

Minot Metros catcher Trevor Gust hit two home runs to highlight a 16-hit, 20-2 rout of Bottineau in the opening round of the Section 5 Tournament.

Gust hit a two-run home run in the second inning and added a solo shot in the seventh to bring his season home run total to 11.

Gust's second home run led off the seventh inning, where the Metros exploded for 13 runs on seven hits. The Metros had five extra-base hits in the inning, including a grand slam by Ethan Stein.

"All these guys are capable of being good players," Gust said. "When we put our hitting and pitching together we can be one of the best teams in the section."

Metros starting pitcher Alex Howell backed up the big hits with an equally solid performance on the mound. Howell allowed one earned run and six hits despite playing on with a torn posterior cruciate ligament in his left knee.

"My hat is off to Alex," Metros head coach Travis Smith said. "He came out like a champion fighter and pitched a great game."

The Metros had four players with multiple hits led by Levi Landphere, who was 4 for 5 with three RBIs. Ethan Stein was 3 for 3 with five RBIs, Adam Burckhard was 2 for 4 and Gust was 2 for 4.

Bottineau's Shawn Anderson scored on a throwing error in the second inning and Cody Block scored on a single by Mark LaCroix in the fourth.

Bottineau starter Andy Erickson was charged with the loss as he gave up eight hits and five earned runs in four innings.