×

Raymond RBI sends Red River to first Class A state baseball title game

FARGO — Will Raymond cracked what prove to be the game-winning RBI single in the seventh inning as Grand Forks Red River beat Minot 5-4 in their North Dakota Class A state baseball semifinal game Friday, June 1, at Newman Outdoor Field.

Raymond’s single helped send the Roughriders to their first-ever state championship game. He hadn’t had a hit all game until his last at-bat. But he knew it could be his last chance at giving the Roughriders a shot at the state title. To him, there was nothing to be nervous about. He had to provide for his team.

“I don’t know what it was,” Raymond said. “I guess as a senior, it’s all on the line.”

Red River (10-6) had built up an early lead when, in the top of the third, Peyton Lotysz hit an RBI single to right field and Coby Tweten drove in another run on a fielder’s choice to give the Roughriders a 2-0 lead. Parker Monette then drove in a run and Lotysz drove in another run on a sacrifice fly in the fourth.

Behind an energized crowd in the fifth frame, Minot’s Nicholas Murphy, Lofton Klabunde and Carson Tonini each recorded an RBI and Alex Schimke finally drove a 1-1 pitch to left field for another RBI to tie the game.

Klabunde kept the Magicians (23-6) in the game early, but was eventually tagged with the loss. He allowed five runs, three of them earned, on nine hits and walked three batters and struck out one.

In the top of the seventh, Tweten started the inning off with a double to deep left field and Raymond drove the courtesy runner in to give the Roughriders the lead that Tweten would hold onto. In three scoreless innings, Tweten, the winning pitcher, allowed two hits and a walk to go with four strikeouts. Red River starter Jackson Haagenson allowed four runs on two hits to go with three strikeouts and three walks.

Newsletter

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *
   

Starting at $4.62/week.

Subscribe Today