In the age of Sabermetrics, the bunt's reputation has taking a beating - and for good reason. Giving away outs in most cases is not a sound strategy.

But used judiciously, nothing beats a little bit of small ball.

Consecutive picture- perfect bunts in the seventh inning set up J.B. Johnston's two-run single as Bismarck downed Century 2-0 in West Region baseball action on Monday.

"We've struggled bunting in games," BHScoach Troy Olson said. "A coach wants it 100 percent perfect, and that's probably not possible.

"We always talk about how much the game has changed with the wood bats, and it was nice to get a couple down when we needed to,"he added.

The game was a true pitcher's duel between Bismarck's Jon Hausauer, who surrendered just one hit, and Century's Alex Allen, who gave up three. Both starters walked two and struck out three.

Allen allowed just one hit - a single by Jake Hruby - through the first five innings, but no Bismarck baserunner got farther than first base. Two of the three Demons who did reach were gunned down trying to steal by Century catcher Taylor Isakson.

Meanwhile, the Patriots weren't having much more luck against Hausauer. Nate Schlosser had Century's only hit, a single to left in the second.

See Demons, Page 4D

"We just haven't seen a pitcher like Jon Hausauer,"CHScoach Mike Gustavsson said. "You have to give him credit. His change-up and curveball kept us off-balance."

But CHS appeared ready to mount a threat in the bottom of the fifth. First baseman Marshall Klein drilled a fly ball over left fielder Tyler Peterson's head and pulled into second base with what looked to be a double.

But Olson noticed that Klein missed first base. When the Demons appealed, Klein was ruled out - and drew little argument from Gustavsson.

"You could see the footprint,"the CHS coach conceded. "If that was his footprint, he missed by a good 6 inches."

The Demons then took advantage of their only scoring chance. Hruby led off the inning with a walk. Darron Olson followed, dragging a bunt down the first-base line. Klein couldn't handle the toss from Allen, and the Demons had two on with none out.

Andrew Seeberg was up next and set down another great bunt, this one dying right in front of home plate. Isakson pounced on it, but the strong-armed catcher's throw to third wasn't in time to get Hruby. The Patriots tried to get Seeberg at first, but he was safe as well, loading the bases.

That set the stage for Johnston, who went the opposite way, knuckling a hit to short left that scored both Hruby and Olson for all the cushion Hausauer would need.

"It was an outside curveball," Johnston said. "I just stuck the bat out and tried to get her in play. … I was actually hoping for a fly ball, trying to score the runner from third."

Century did rally to win the second game, which does not count in the region standings, 6-1.

Bismarck took a quick lead. A single by Jesse Schuchard and a pair of walks loaded the bases in the top of the first. After a fielder's choice, Drew Hendrickson scored on a wild pitch.

The rest of the game was all Patriots.

Century answered with a pair of runs on four singles in the bottom of the first. Chris Wenzel and Zach Wentz got the rally started with a pair of base hits, then both scored on a knock by Dustin Wenzel.

The Patriots tacked on four more in the second. Chris Wenzel, Drew Hausauer and Nate Schlosser contributed RBI singles, while Dustin Wenzel plated a run with a double.

Evan Gesellchen went the distance, allowing just two hits in the five-inning game. He walked five and struck out three.

Bismarck 2, Century 0

Bismarck 000 000 2 - 2 3 0

Century 000 000 0 - 0 1 2

Jon Hausauer and Tyler Johnson; Alex Allen and Taylor Isakson. W - Hausauer. L - Allen. HR - None.

Highlights: B - Hausauer 7 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 3 SO. J.B. Johnston 1-for-3, 2 RBIs. Jake Hruby R. Darron Olson R. C - Allen 7 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 BB, 3 SO. Nate Schlosser 1-for-2.

Century 6, Bismarck 1

Bismarck 100 00 - 1 2 0

Century 240 0x - 6 10 0

Jesse Schuchard, Jared Hochhalter (3) and Alex Deyle; Evan Gesellchen and Drew Hausauer, Dustin Wenzel (4). W - Gesellchen. L - Schuchard. HR - None.

Highlights: B - Drew Hendrickson R. C - Dustin Wenzel 3-for-3, double, R, 3 RBIs. Chris Wenzel 2-for-2, 2 R, RBI.

Records: B 2-2 West Region, 5-3 overall. C 2-1, 6-2.