Kari Gibb/MDN Minot High junior Aidan Diehl makes the third out in the top of the third inning for the Magi against the Williston Coyotes

The Williston Coyotes (2-4, 4-8) baseball team made the trip to Minot High (8-0, 13-0) to face the Magi in a doubleheader on one of this spring’s nicer baseball weather days.

Minot High 7, Williston 0

The first game showcased pitching and defense with error free play that limited any scoring opportunities for the visiting Coyotes. Senior Adam Roedocker pitched six innings, allowing no runs on four hits from the mound. The fact that there was only one batter struck out and none walked for the game, showcased the defensive play of the Magi.

The best example of defense came at the top of the sixth inning when Williston junior Bridger Johnson was hit by a pitch to make it to first base. Coyotes senior Max Heen then hit into a double play. Minot High junior Treyton Stewart collected the ground ball and made the throw to Branden Nelson at first base for the first out of the inning. As fast as the throw to first happened, the throw from Nelson back to Stewart was quicker for the out at second before the Coyotes Johnson could get there safely.

Senior Coyote Kaeden Call singled and advanced to third when teammate and fellow senior Connor Ekblad hit a long drive to right field. Ekblad was then picked off at first base by Magi senior Parker Hann who was playing shortstop when he was caught off base trying to steal second.

“This is a very good group of kids,” said Minot High baseball head coach Pete Stenberg. “They have played a lot of baseball together and there are several multisport athletes on the team. They understand the level of competition and they also understand how to move past the last thing that happened and focus on the thing that is happening right now.”

Minot junior Kellan Burke pitched the final inning and allowed no runs on no hits. He walked one batter and struck out two in relief.

Hann went 3 of 3 from the plate with two RBIs and scored two runs. As a team, the Magi were 9 of 25 batting with five batters walked and five struck out by Williston. Burke reached base twice and scored two runs despite not having a hit at the plate, but was hit by pitch twice in consecutive at bats.

Minot High 16, Williston 6

Williston began the second game with more offense in the first inning with one run than in the entire first game. The Coyotes had one run at the top of each inning of play except the fourth inning with two runs and the sixth inning with no runs.

Minot High scored two runs in the first inning, three in the second, two in the third and widened the gap in the bottom of the fourth inning with five runs. The Magi added a run in the fifth and before scoring three more runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to reach the ten-run rule lead to end the game.

Hann was 3 of 5 batting in the second game, with two RBIs while also scoring three runs. Diehl was 2 of 4 with three RBIs, scoring twice as well. Burke went 2 of 5 batting and added three RBIs. Junior Easton Panesuk, Nelson and senior Tyson Ryzicka each had two hits and collectively added five RBIs for Minot High. Stewart and junior Carson Deaver each added a hit for the Magi in the win.

Minot High went 15 of 34 batting in the second game. There were six Magi batters who reached on walks and only four struck out.

Junior Hyrum Maples pitched three innings with three runs allowed on three hits and an earned run stat line of two and he walked four Coyotes and struck out three for the win. Senior Jagger Swartwout pitched three innings in relief and allowed three runs on two hits while he walked three Williston batters and struck out two for Minot High.

The Magi travel to Bismarck Legacy on Friday, April 26, for a doubleheader, while the Coyotes will host Dickinson on Tuesday, April 30, in their next games.