WILLISTON, N.D. — For the first time in more than a month, the Valley City Post 60 Royals failed to score at least seven runs.
It didn’t matter.
Behind another dominant pitching performance and a game-saving defensive play in the seventh inning, the Royals edged the Casselton Post 15 Haymakers 3-2 on Friday to advance to the final four of the Class A State Legion Baseball Tournament.
Valley City struck first for the fifth consecutive postseason game, taking advantage of a Casselton throwing error before Andrew Sykora lined a two-out RBI double to give the Royals an early 2-0 lead.
Bryson Heck took the ball for the Royals in the pivotal winners’ bracket matchup and delivered another strong outing. The veteran right-hander tossed 4 2/3 scoreless innings before turning the game over to the bullpen.
The Royals added what proved to be the decisive run in the third inning when a bobble by the Casselton shortstop allowed Jack Samuelson to race home for a 3-0 advantage.
Offense was at a premium for the Royals, who were held to just one hit. Fortunately for Valley City, Casselton’s defensive errors proved costly, spoiling an otherwise stellar complete-game performance from Lucas Christiansen, who struck out eight.
With Heck and Cole Bullinger keeping Casselton off the scoreboard, the Royals carried a 3-0 lead into the seventh inning.
The Haymakers mounted one final rally. A hit batter and an infield single put two runners aboard before Brody Mueller was called in from the bullpen.
Christiansen greeted Mueller with a run-scoring double down the left-field line, ending the shutout and putting runners on second and third with one out. Carter Kasowski followed with a sacrifice fly to trim the deficit to 3-2, and a wild pitch moved the potential tying run to third base with two outs.
Casselton appeared poised to complete the comeback when Brody Kegley drove a ball deep into the left-center field gap. Parker Roelfsema, however, raced it down and made a running catch to end the game, preserving the Royals’ one-run victory and sending Valley City into the final four.
Valley City will face the Devils Lake Storm in the first Class A State Tournament final four matchup at 5:30 p.m. Saturday.
The game can be heard on 1490 AM/96.3 FM KOVC and streamed online at NewsDakota.com.
