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Sabre Dogs top Trappers, earn back-to-back playoff berths

Jimmy Lafakis/MDN Souris Valley players celebrate after defeating the Pierre Trappers. The Sabre Dogs clinched a postseason berth with a 7-0 victory Friday night at Corbett Field.

The situation couldn’t have been simpler for the Souris Valley Sabre Dogs. If the home team defeated the Pierre Trappers in any of their final three matchups, the Sabre Dogs would earn their second consecutive Expedition League playoff berth.

Souris Valley punched its playoff ticket with some box-office flair. A 7-0 victory over the Trappers sealed the deal.

“Last year, we clinched on the road,” Sabre Dogs head coach Corey Thompson said. “That was fun, too. But to do it in front of your home crowd is just really exciting.”

Hits came at a premium in the early stages of the ballgame at Corbett Field. The Lewis Division rivals failed to score in the first four innings.

The pitchers’ duel between Souris Valley’s Nathaniel Brezner-Mendoza and Pierre’s Alex Sheetz tipped the home team’s way in the fifth inning. The tilt marked Sheetz’s first start of the season, and the sidearmer allowed the contest’s first two runs.

Souris Valley catcher Drew Pollum roped a double to left center field. First baseman Justin Henle worked a walk. Both teams used pitchers as designated hitters, and Marcelo Terrazas needed to execute a sacrifice bunt.

On the first pitch of his second at-bat, Terrazas answered the bell. His sacrifice advanced both runners and set up third baseman Jase Edwards to single home Pollum.

Edwards took off for second base with two outs. Pierre catcher Alex Gonzales bobbled the ball, but still threw to second. The botched play at the base allowed Henle to trot home, and the Sabre Dogs held a 2-0 lead after five innings.

“It was a close ballgame, 0-0,” Pollum said. “It was nice to get the leadoff double and find a way to get on the board. “

Brezner-Mendoza issued back-to-back two-out walks in the sixth, but escaped the jam. The bottom of the inning opened the floodgates.

Second baseman Sam Powers led off Souris Valley’s half of the frame with a bloop double into right field. Shortstop Josh Paino’s grounder to position counterpart Michael Herrera advanced Powers to third base.

Right fielder Wilson Roubion found some of his own luck. Roubion lifted a pop fly that initially appeared foul, but twisted into fair territory. The ball fell between Pierre third baseman Zane Phelps and left fielder Seth Brewer, and Powers found paydirt.

Henle’s two-out single into right field scored Roubion, and the Sabre Dogs had doubled their lead from the prior inning. They were nowhere close to finishing their business.

The rally continued as Terrazas got plunked with a pitch. Left fielder Phillip Childs beat out an infield single as Herrera’s throw pulled first baseman Johnny Pacheo off the bag. Edwards continued to contribute, knocking an RBI single to the outfield.

White-hot hitter Crews Taylor wanted in on the hit parade. His sharp single scored Terrazas and the speedy Childs. Powers shattered his bat on a groundout, but the damage was done.

“They just put together good at-bats,” Thompson said. “One good at-bat led to another good at-bat, and it’s a chain effect once that happens. The boys don’t want to quit.”

Souris Valley provided Brezner-Mendoza with ample insurance runs. He returned the favor and retired the opposition in order.

Sabre Dogs reliever Cory Smith didn’t allow any to runners to reach home either.

Neither team scratched in the eighth or the ninth. Souris Valley’s statement victory raised its record to 36-26, while Pierre fell to 31-30.

Brezner-Mendoza’s gem netted him his fourth win of the season. He allowed just two hits in seven innings pitched, striking out seven.

“We’ve had good chemistry all season,” Pollum said. “He trusts me. Whatever I put down, he usually decides to throw it.”

Souris Valley will face the Badlands Big Sticks on Wednesday, August 7, in Dickinson for the first round of the playoffs. It’s a rematch of last year’s one-game divisional postseason series. The Fremont Moo will square off against the Western Nebraska Pioneers in Clark Division postseason action.

As the players began to celebrate, one yell could be heard over all the rest. Chauncey Callier’s bellow of “Playoffs! Playoffs! Playoffs!” said it all.

The Sabre Dogs still have two more home games against the Pierre Trappers today and tomorrow to close out the regular season.

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

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