Jimmy Lafakis/MDN Sabre Dogs pitcher Jace Mapston delivers a pitch in the second inning of Wednesday's game against the Hub City Hotshots. Mapston earned his first win of the season.

During the first two games of their current seven-game homestand, the Souris Valley Sabre Dogs battled their opponents in one-run games. A loss against the Badlands Big Sticks and a win over the Hub City Hotshots, respectively, came down to the final inning.

The Sabre Dogs wasted no time sealing their fate on Wednesday night, winning 6-0 over Hub City in a rain-shortened ballgame. The home team never looked back after scoring four runs in the first three innings.

Phillip Childs led off the initial rally with a sharp single. Childs ran toward second base, but Hub City pitcher Trevyn Wells anticipated his move. Wells’ throw to first base skipped away, and the speedy baserunner motored around to third.

Mason Dinesen’s RBI groundout scored Childs. The Sabre Dogs held a 1-0 lead after just two at-bats. The outing marked Dinesen’s last appearance with Souris Valley.

“I’m just out here soaking it in,” he said. “It was fun just to play with these kids. I’ve had a lot of fun this year.”

Neither team scratched in the second inning, but Souris Valley struck for three in the third. Childs remained aggressive, swiping second and third after reaching base. Dinesen hit what appeared to be a routine sacrifice fly, but Hub City right fielder Daniel Durazo dropped the ball.

On the next pitch, Crews Taylor launched a home run to right center field. The Hotshots’ two costly errors in the first three innings both led to runs. The Sabre Dogs held a 4-0 lead.

“I felt really good,” Taylor said. “I was out there enjoying playing with all the guys because some guys are leaving soon. I was locked in.”

After two innings of no scoring, the Childs-Dinesen combination struck again. Childs smoked a double to left field, then stole third on an errant pitch. Dinesen worked the count and rifled another pitch into left.

Childs hustled home, and a bobbled ball allowed Dinesen to reach second base. Taylor’s groundout to first base moved his teammate over to third. Josh Paino added another insurance run with a sharp two-out single into left.

A lightning delay followed during the seventh-inning stretch. Fans took shelter and sung along to Pinkfong’s “Baby Shark” and the Backstreet Boys’ “I Want It That Way.”

The game was called after six and a half innings of play. Starting pitcher Jace Mapston earned his first win of the season and was credited with a complete-game shutout. Mapston struck out six batters, allowed just four hits and walked one batter.

Souris Valley finished the season series with a 10-4 advantage over Hub City. The Sabre Dogs improved to 34-26, while the Hotshots dropped to 22-35.

The Sabre Dogs will continue their homestand with the first of a four-game series against the Pierre Trappers tonight at 7:05 p.m. Those particular games will likely determine which team earns a Lewis Division playoff berth.

Dinesen, named an All-Star this season, offered one final word before he left Corbett Field for the last time.

“I think we’re very well-coached,” he said. “I want to shout out (head coach) Corey Thompson for the way he runs this team.”

Jimmy Lafakis covers Minot High School sports and Class B high school sports. Follow him on Twitter @JJLII30.