Minot High captured the WDA Tournament title with a 5-4 victory over Mandan on Saturday, May 23, at Bismarck’s Municipal Ballpark. The Magicians were the No. 6 seed, while the Braves were the eighth seed. Photo provided by WDA Sports. Submitted Photo

Seeding proved to be rather meaningless at the WDA Tournament, with upsets occurring on both days of the weather-condensed postseason competition.

In the end, No. 6 Minot High emerged victorious, capturing its eighth conference tournament title with a 5-4 victory over Mandan in the championship game on Saturday, May 23, at Bismarck’s Municipal Ballpark. The Braves made an improbable run to the title game as the No. 8 seed, knocking off No. 1 Bismarck Legacy and No. 5 Dickinson after winning a play-in game against Jamestown to get into the field.

The Magicians (16-10) rallied from a 4-1 deficit with a pair of runs in both the fourth and fifth innings. Tegan Schindler gave Minot High the lead in the fifth with a sacrifice bunt to score Oliver Deschamp. Owen Meyer tied the game two batters prior with an RBI single to left, plating Drew Jordan.

Cole Deaver tripled in Schindler and Brock Thompson in the fourth.

The Braves (16-15) recorded six of their nine hits in the third inning, scoring all four of their runs in the process. Aiden Bogner put Mandan in front, 2-1, with a two-run double to left field. Jack Tooke hit a two-run home run with two outs.

Mandan put the game-tying run on third with one out in the sixth, but Minot High’s Brody Johnson struck out Aaden Pfliger and got Liam Keller to fly out to left. Johnson picked up the six-out save, allowing one hit and striking out two.

Remington Anderson earned the win on the mound, tossing the first five innings. He allowed four runs on eight hits, striking out three and walking one.

Schindler went 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored.

Tooke had a game-high three hits. He registered two RBIs and a run scored.

Minot High secured its spot in the WDA Tournament championship as well as at the state tournament following a 15-4 victory over Minot North in the semifinals earlier in the day after rain postponed the game originally scheduled for Friday.

The Magicians broke the game open with an 11-run third inning. The Sentinels committed five errors in the frame, including three on Minot High’s first three at-bats. Owen Meyer reached on an error at first. Gavin King bunted and got on base via a throwing error and Schindler did the exact same, allowing Meyer to score.

Deaver cleared the bases with a three-run double for a 5-0 lead and a fourth error resulted in Minot High’s sixth run. Three straight RBI singles off the bats of Meyer, King and Schindler, and a bases-loaded walk issued to Owen Sundahl made it 11-0.

Minot North (18-8) got three runs back in the bottom half of the inning when Jace Price plated all three on a single with two outs.

Minot High added three runs in the fifth without recording a hit. Three walks, a fielder’s choice, a hit batter and a ground out gave the Magicians a 15-4 lead.

Deschamp recorded two hits, including a double and an RBI.

Mason Stewart went 2-for-3 with a triple and scored twice for Minot North.

The Magicians will play West Fargo Sheyenne in the quarterfinal round at the state tournament on Thursday, May 28, at Corbett Field at 6:30 p.m.

SENTINELS ADVANCE TO FIRST STATE TOURNAMENT

Minot North didn’t have time to dwell on its loss to Minot High, as the Sentinels were right back on the field looking to advance to their first state tournament.

Minot North spotted Bismarck Century three runs to begin the game, but rallied with eight runs over the first two innings in an 8-4 victory over the Patriots in a state qualifier. The Sentinels are the No. 3 seed and will play West Fargo Horace in the state quarterfinals on Thursday, May 28, at 4:30 p.m.

Gannon Hedberg and Levi Balas tied the game in the bottom of the first with a pair of doubles. Hedberg’s second hit of the game drove in Tate Haugenoe to put Minot North in front in the second inning. Logan Dixon built on the lead with an RBI single to left and an error during Balas’ at-bat made it 6-3. Brady Vigested capped off the scoring with a two-out, two-run single to center.

Minot North’s defense turned two double plays in support of Stewart on the mound. In his biggest start of the season, Stewart went all seven innings, allowing four runs – one earned – on seven hits, striking out one and walking one.

Brody Mueller and Hedberg each recorded multi-hit games.

Mueller was named WDA Senior Athlete of the Year, while coach Bryan Krahler was named WDA Coach of the Year.