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JAMESTOWN — In Jamestown High School’s first trip to the 2022 NDHSAA State Tournament, the Blue Jays got off to a hot start but it was quickly foiled by the No. 1-seed from the east region, the West Fargo Sheyenne Mustangs on Wednesday, June 2, at Jack Brown Stadium.
“We have eight seniors that won the championship last year with us,” Mustangs head coach Ryan Bodell said. “So, I think they know what it’s like around here and the intensity and everything like that. So, I think they turned it up a notch here for the postseason and they’re just ready to go.”
The Blue Jays (13-12) opened the scoring in the top of the second when Peyton Hochhalter scurried home on a wild pitch to make it 1-0.
The Blue Jays doubled their lead in the top of the third when Hoyt reached on an infield single to set up first and third with nobody out. Later in the inning, Mason Lunzman scored on a passed ball to make it 2-0 Blue Jays.
“They made some mistakes so we got some guys on and moved some runners,” Blue Jays head coach Jack Bowman said. “A little here, a little there, got in a couple runs.”
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The Blue Jays defense hurt them in the bottom of the third, as Grant Warkenthien reached on an error. That set up Tate Gustafson to rope a line drive over the fielder Connor Hoyt’s head to score Brennan Haman and cut the deficit to 2-1. Later in the frame, the Mustangs’ Caleb Duerr took a first pitch ball while Gustafson took off for third and came home when catcher Max Fronk’s throw sailed into left field to put the Mustangs up 3-2.
The Blue Jays showed their heart and fought back though in the top of the fourth when Michael Mahoney crushed a double to set up Gage Orr who hit a slow roller to the left side and slid headfirst into the bag to score Mahoney and tie the game at three.
In the bottom of the fifth the Mustangs (14-4) went back up for good when Casey Clemsson led off the inning with a double to right that just got past the diving Reagan Sortland. Clemenson would be brought home on a Hochhalter balk to push the Mustangs out in front 4-3. Warkenthien continued his big day hitting a sacrifice fly to score Cooper Borchardt and make it a 5-3 game.
The Mustangs added on in the bottom of the fifth when Trey Stocker led off the frame with a double before stealing third. The next batter was Gustafson who grounded past Walters who went to cover second and into center to score Stocker and make it 6-3. Two batters later, Clemenson lined one right back at the pitcher, Hochhalter and trickled away where Walters got the sure out and sacrificed the run as the Mustangs lead went to 7-3. Later in the inning, Borchardt grounded it to Walters who couldn’t handle the hop allowing Gustafson to score to make it 8-3.
The Mustangs put the game away in the sixth when Gustafson hit a double off the base of the wall in right to score Warkenthien and Stocker to make it 10-3.
“It’s a good build up, stay hot, four-for-four, be happy with it tonight and be ready to come back tomorrow and focus up,” Gustafson said.
JHS 3, WFS 10
JHS: 0 1 1 1 0 0 0—3 4 4
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WFS: 0 0 3 2 3 2 X–10 8 1
WP: Brennan Haman LP: Peyton Hochhalter
First and Second round Bracket below:
06/02
G1: W1 Bismarck Century 1, E4 Shanley 4
G2: E2 Wahpeton 3, W3 Dickinson 6
G3: W2 Minot 10, E3 Fargo North 5,
G4: E1 West Fargo Sheyenne 10 W4 Jamestown 3
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06/03
G5: W1 Bismarck Century vs. E2 Wahpeton, 11:30 a.m.
G6: E3 Fargo North vs. W4 Jamestown, 1:45 p.m.
G7: E4 Shanley vs. W3 Dickinson, 4:30 p.m.
G8: W2 Minot vs. W4 West Fargo Sheyenne, 6:45 p.m.
