GRAND FORKS, ND (by Ryan Cunningham) It took every big play in the book, but the book finally landed with a happy ending for the Grand Forks Royals.
Post 6 used a three-run rally in the sixth, then a second double play of their game to outlast the Williston Keybirds 4-3 in the opening round of the North Dakota AA American Legion State Tournament in Fargo Monday night.
Zander Waind sent a hard one-hopper up the middle in the sixth with the bases loaded, plating Matt Dosch and David Larson to deliver the Royals their first lead of the game, with Dosch and Waind connecting on a 1-6-3 twin killing in the bottom of the seventh to shut down a Williston rally that threatened the game-winning lead.
Grand Forks committed four errors in the game, allowing two unearned runs that tied the game, a recipe that has caused this young group issues in the past. Monday night saw them turn a corner and overcome those miscues to advance to the second round of the tournament.
Williston led 1-0 on a lone run in the bottom of the second and took that lead to the sixth inning. Dosch led off the sixth with a liner to center. Larson, attempting to move Dosch, bunted with backspin, and reached safely when the ball backtracked toward the plate against a charge from the Keybird infield.
Jacob Chine then chopped his way on with an infield single to the left side, setting the stage for Waind’s two-RBI shot.
Chine would later swipe third base, and score on a sacrifice fly, giving the Royals a 3-1 lead after five-and-a-half.
Williston would eventually tie the game in the sixth, when a throwing error on a tough double-play attempt allowed two unearned runs to eventually score, sending the game to the seventh at 3-3.
Gabe Tande led off the seventh with a single and moved on Braden Brevik’s bunt. Chance Colgrove then produced the game’s eventual winning run with a shot to center, plating Tande on a head-first slide.
After a leadoff single in the bottom, Waind, in relief of Dosch, fielded a one-hopper and turned to start a double play attempt. His throw was offline, but Dosch, now at shortstop, adjusted to make the catch on the second-base side while just dragging a toe across the bag, then threw to first to complete the play.
Colgrove ate up a hard shot with a runner on later in the inning, touching his bag at first for the out.
The Royals now face Fargo Post 2, the tournament’s top seed. Gametime is Tuesday at 5 PM, with pregame radio coverage at 4:30 PM on KNOX.