There were other dramas going on Saturday for the Minot Kruse's Collision Center team besides playing two games - and besides having three players at their 30th McQuade Softball Tournament.

There was drama off the field - with the pitcher's pregnant wife.

After Saturday's first game - which the team lost to the Buffalo Wild Wings, 16-11 - Mary Aberle, a little after 1 p.m., let her husband, pitcher Ron Aberle, know she was having labor pains. About 20 minutes apart.

It wasn't that big of a surprise. The Aberles always come to the McQuade tournaments and didn't want the kids to miss the fun and the overnight hotel stay and water slide. So they decided to risk coming to the tourney, even though Mary was due at any time.

And even though she had had some pains the night before.

And even though way back on Wednesday, the doctor's office visit showed she was dilated to 2.

"You can't miss a McQuade," Mary said.

Her husband asked her if she wanted to chance it, and she did. She's had several children and they've all taken their slow sweet time.

After Mary gave Ron her post-game pain report on Saturday, the couple didn't immediately leave. She didn't want to leave until she was sure.

At 2:30 p.m., they and their children were still in Bismarck, getting work done at a dealership on a new car they had bought here.

At 5:30 p.m., Ron reported that the pains were irregular and they had decided to stay for the 6:30 p.m. game and had checked into a hotel.

Ron said he has suggested they name the baby, which they know is a girl, "McQuade," but his wife has other ideas.

At the evening game, there she was sitting on the ground on a blanket. Five of their seven children had come down for the tourney, too, and are anxious that their new sibling not show up until after the family holiday.

At the beginning of the 6:30 p.m. game, Mary reported having a pain.

"Something's happening here," she said later about the pains and other things she was noticing.

But the baby stayed put. Ron kept looking in her direction for signs. Literally, signs. He had taught her a couple signs - pinching the nose, swiping her neck - if she needed him to leave the game, she said and laughed.

At game's end, great news. The team had won, 9-4, and the next game was to be this morning at 11 a.m.

The Aberles left the Saturday night game for some supper, then rest at the hotel and expected to be back for today's game.

Mary said she didn't want to leave for Minot until she was sure, until the water broke, perhaps.

Two games and they're still not out. Stay tuned.

(Reach reporter Virginia Grantier at 250-8254 or at vgrantier@ndonline.com.)