Aug 08, 2008 - 04:06:47 CDT
MINOT “ Dickinson pitcher Steven Laylock was determined to beat the Mandan Chiefs on his own in a winners' bracket contest of the Class A state Legion baseball tournament.Laylock lasted all nine innings in a 7-5 victory over the Chiefs Thursday night at Corbett Field.
Dickinson, the No. 2 seed, advanced to tonight's winners' bracket game against the Minot Vistas “ the two lone unbeaten teams in the tournament. Mandan (34-24) plays Grand Forks today in a losers' bracket game.
Laylock literally took care of the Chiefs himself, fanning Jeff Werner for the final out.
"I felt like I wanted to get the last out for my own confidence sake," Laylock said. "I told the coach I wanted to go all nine innings."
Dickinson coach Cory Hansen eased the tension for Laylock in the ninth inning when Laylock ran into a jam. Just like the baseball movie Bull Durham, Hansen used a little humor.
He visited the mound and asked Laylock what he should buy his wife for their anniversary on Sunday.
"I didn't answer him," Laylock said.
Laylock scattered nine hits. He walked none, beaned one and fanned 10. The right-hander threw 137 pitches with 88 going for strikes.
Laylock started the game slow. In the first inning, he gave up a single to leadoff hitter Jared Muth, beaned Jason Mellmer and gave up a three-run home run to Steve Pletan.
After that, Laylock pitched scoreless ball until the ninth. Laylock retired 14 straight batters, starting in the second inning. Reid Jungling broke the streak when he singled to left field in the seventh inning.
Of the 36 hitters Laylock faced, he fanned 10, got nine to pop out and five to ground out.
Dickinson broke a 3-3 tie in the seventh inning when No. 4 hitter Ben Herauf singled in Tyler Steffan.
It was Herauf's ninth RBI of the tournament so far.
The Roughriders added three runs in the ninth “ all unearned. Mandan committed two of its four errors in the frame.
"We should have shored up our defense," Mandan assistant coach Ryne Jungling said. "Defensively, we didn't play as well as we would have liked. We had some chances to turn some double plays."
Mandan pitcher Sam Salveson threw well. Salveson pitched eight complete, giving up seven hits, six runs (three were earned), while walking five and fanning five.
Salveson threw 133 pitches with 91 going for strikes.
"Salveson deserved to win this," Ryne Jungling said. "After the first inning he settled in and threw really well."
Like Laylock, Salveson started slow. Dickinson pushed across three runs in the first, two of which were earned.
Dickinson 300 000 103 “ 7 7 0
Mandan 300 000 002 “ 5 9 4
Steven Laylock and Michael Steve; Sam Salveson, Jacob Friesz (9) and Jason Mellmer. W-Laylock; L-Salveson. HR-Mandan, Steve Pletan.
Highlights: D “ Tyler Steffan 1-for-4, Ben Herauf 2-for-4, 2 RBIs, Grant Kovacs 2-for-4, 2 RBIs, Jackson Wandler double, RBI; M-Pletan 1-for-4, HR, 3 RBIs; Jared Quast 2-for-4; Matt Keller double; Reid Jungling 1-for-3, RBI.
Records: Mandan 34-24; Dickinson 36-14.
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