Wildcats bats falter in state tournament
By Jerry W. Kram
The Lewis and Clark – North Shore-Parshall Wildcats continued to get outstanding pitching performances in the North Dakota State Class B Baseball tournament, allowing just seven runs in three games. However, the Wildcats struggled to produce runs of their own, and finished the year with three losses in the state tournament to Carrington, 2-0; Beulah, 3-2 in 12 innings; and Harvey-Wells County 2-1.
Austin Lee pitched a gem against the Cardinals, allowing just three hits and no walks over six innings. However, Lee was victimized by Wildcats errors in the third inning and gave up a single to Carrington pitcher Braxton Hewitt that scored two unearned runs. Hewitt blanked the Wildcats over seven inning, giving up five hits but shutting down the Wildcats with six strikeouts. Alec Lee provided one of the few sparks of offense for the Wildcats going 2 for 3.
Despite six errors on defense, the Wildcats gave the Beulah Miners all they could handle for 12 innings before Alex Nelson gave up a walkoff hit to Michael Morris. It was Morris’ only hit in seven plate appearances. The Wildcats took an early lead in the game scoring two runs off of Morris in the second inning. Wildcats’ starter Jordan Nelson no-hit the Miners through five innings, but gave up three walks. The Miners scored an unearned run in the fourth inning. Austin Lee came in for the sixth inning and was hit hard, giving up nine hits over six innings, but limiting the damage to one run in the sixth inning to tie the game. John Suter batted in both runs for the Miners before extra innings.
