Kari Gibb/MDN The ball gets past Minot High senior Braden Nelson at first base in a pickoff attempt by the Magicians against Bismarck Century Patriots

The Bismarck Century Patriots traveled to Minot to face the Magicians in a doubleheader that was a pitching and hitting battle from the start. In the end, each team claimed a win with Century scoring nine runs in the first game for the win and Minot High scoring nine runs in the second game for the win.

Bismarck Century 9, Minot High 3

In the first game, despite Minot High having 11 hits in the game, Century had one more hit with 12 that came at opportune moments in the game.

Both teams started the game with a run each in the first inning of play. With runners on first and second, Century had the chance to load the bases when a ground ball to Magi junior Carson Deaver who fielded the grounder, tagged third base and made the throw to first for the double play.

Minot High junior Easton Panesuk singled to start the inning. Two batters later, Kellan Burke hit a double, senior Parker Hann was walked then fellow senior Braden Nelson singled for the run to score. The Patriot defense stiffened and the scoring was on hold. Both teams held defensively in the second inning of play as well.

With the score tied at 1-1 in the top of the third inning, the Patriots were able to get two runs on the scoreboard compared to the one run for Minot in the bottom of the inning. With two out in the bottom of the third, Burke doubled again while Hann walked again. With Runners in scoring position, Nelson again singled to score Burke.

Century had the 3-2 lead going into the top of the fourth inning of play. Where the Patriots added another run to increase the gap to a 4-2 game. Minot was unable to get runners across the home plate. Century added four runs at the top of the sixth and one more at the top of the seventh, holding a 9-2 lead with Minot High working the bats in the bottom of the seventh.

WIth two out in the bottom of the seventh inning, Hann singled to get on base, stole second and advanced to third on error. Nelson again singled to score Hann. Nelson was 3-for-4 in the game while Burke was 2-for-3 with junior Treyton Stewart having the same stat line. Panesuk, junior Aiden Diehl, Hann and senior Blays Ostrom each added a hit in the game.

As a team, the Magi were 11-for-30 at the plate. Stewart pitched four and one-third innings, allowed four runs on six hits with an earned run mark of three. Senior Gavin Mathews pitched two-thirds inning and allowed four runs on three hits. Ostrom pitched two innings for the Magi and allowed one run on one hit. Between the three pitchers, only one Patriot was struck out.

Minot High 9, Bismarck Century 5

In the second game, the roles between the two teams were reversed. The Patriots were able to post two runs at the top of the second inning and one run at the top of the fourth, fifth and sixth innings of play.

The Magi had one run at the bottom of the first, three at the bottom of the second inning and five at the bottom of the fourth inning- then settled into a defensive stand to end the game.

In the second game, Panesuk and Hann were 2-for-3 and Diehl was 2-for-4 while Burke, Nelson, senior Luke Balas and Orstrom each added a hit in the game. As a team, Minot High was 10-for-26 at the plate with four batters walked by Century.

Magi senior Jagger Swartwout pitched four and one-third innings and allowed four runs on eight hits with an earned run mark of three. Senior Tyson Ryzicka pitched one and two-thirds innings and allowed one run on one hit in the game. Burke pitched the last inning in relief and allowed no runs, no hits and walked no batters. He also stuckout the final three batters.

Minot High travels southwest to Watford City on Thursday, May 16, for a doubleheader next.