Royals Advance to Quarters, Will See Familiar Opponent

(KNOX) – Alex Seaver spun a beauty from the hill, and added the big offensive blow in leading the Royals to a first-round state tournament win Tuesday.

Seaver threw seven innings of two-hit baseball, striking out seven, and added the game-winning offensive blow with a two-run double in the first inning, leading the Royals to a 6-2 win over Mandan in the second round of the AA State American Legion Baseball Tournament at Jack Williams Stadium in Fargo.

Both runs scored by Mandan were unearned, as the Royals defense committed three errors in the game. This time, however, Grand Forks survived their mistakes behind an effort from Seaver that allowed no walks against the seven strikeouts. Seaver hit one batter for the only free pass for the Chiefs in the game.

Grand Forks needed offense before Seaver threw a pitch, and Seaver suppled that as well. After putting runners on the corners with nobody out in the top of the first, the Royals had settled for one run, and Seaver came to the plate with two outs in the inning, and runners on first and second.

Seaver drilled a double to the wall in the left-field gap, plating a pair in what would be the game-winning hit while still in the top of the first.

Matt Dosch added a first-inning RBI in the following at-bat, giving the Royals a 4-0 lead after a half inning. With the lead cut to two, catcher David Larson delivered an infield hit that plated two runs to bolster the lead, and the Royals cemented the win.

Grand Forks entered the game as the six-seed, but the teams in the middle of the standings were separated by very thin margins, and the Royals had split with Mandan in the regular season. losing in 12 innings, then taking a four-run win. The Royals will now face another upset-minded team, as Fargo Post 400, the seven seed, upset second-seed West Fargo Tuesday night. Grand Forks will face Post 400 Thursday at 11:00 AM.