Friday night Dent entered the Countryside Playoffs with a wonderful opportunity. They had a first round shot of getting the monkey off their back by playing their arch rival Vergas, who had beaten them twice already this summer.
The Wildcats proved beating a team three times in a season is tough, as they picked up a convincing 10-3 win over the Loons.
Vergas started out the scoring in the second inning with some help from a Dent error. After Brandon Olson walked and Steve Branby singled, Jason Schram hit a ground ball to Dent's third baseman. The ball was thrown home to cut off Olson at the plate and a hotbox ensued. It didn't take long for Olson to get out of it as the ball was launched into left field and rolled all the way to the outfield fence. All three Vergas runners scored on the play giving them a 3-0 lead.
Dent fought back in the fourth inning as Isaac Stoll led off with a single. Brock Collins and Jason Hofmann then proceeded to hit back-to-back doubles, scoring a pair of Dent runs. A Brandon Fritz RBI single tied the game, but Dent wasn't done. Jeff Ronning singled to continue the inning and the go ahead run scored on a Vergas error.
After a couple scoreless innings Dent was able to add to their lead in the seventh. A costly error by the Vergas right fielder, followed by singles for Collins and Hofmann led to two more Dent runs.
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The 'Cats added another run in the eighth inning when Ronning scored on a Nick Torgerson sac fly.
Dent put the icing on the cake as they scored three more runs on three hits, a walk, and a Vergas error in the ninth inning putting them ahead 10-3.
Collins (5-4) earned the win, pitching a complete game five-hitter. He didn't allow a single earned run as struck out 12 Loon batsmen. Jake Stoll took the loss for Vergas.
Vergas would also lose their second game, 7-4, to Pelican Rapids, eliminating them from the playoffs.
'Canes clinch region bid despite being out-hit
Dent's win set up a second round game at No. 1 seed Fergus Falls Sunday. On a very hot afternoon, the Hurricanes shut Dent out 5-0.
The win puts Fergus Falls in the championship game next week and secures for them a Region Tournament bid.
Dent needed a flawless game to get by the Countryside champs, and they didn't get it. Their defense didn't get it done with four errors. Offensively, they did knock out nine hits, but they didn't get the clutch hit, grounding into four double plays.
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After the first two innings going scoreless, Fergus scored three runs in the third inning. Matt Brekke and Brandon Carr singled, and Tim Erickson walked. With one out, Aaron Olson hit a chopper to the shortstop that could have gotten Dent out of the inning. Instead an errant throw and later a sac fly by Ben Brimhall allowed Fergus to take a 3-0 lead. That is all the 'Canes would need.
Dent threatened in the seventh inning. With two outs Ronning and Darin Stoll each singled. Matt Wagner walked to load up the bases, but the 'Cats couldn't get the big hit to break up the shut out.
Fergus added a run in the sixth when Kellen Shebeck singled and later scored on a single by Carr. They scored a final time in the seventh. Mic Johnson reached on an error by the Dent left fielder and later scored on a throwing error on a Fergus bunt play. 5-0 was the final.
Fritz (3-2) threw seven innings for Dent and took the loss on the hill. He gave up two earned runs. Tyler Gagne earned the win for Fergus Falls.
Next round
Wednesday's elimination game is a rematch of the tournament's first game, No. 4 Pelican Rapids against No. 5 Frazee. The game will be played in Dent with the winner moving on to play the Wildcats Friday night.
The winner of Friday night's game would secure a spot in the Region 16C Playoffs. They would also move on to face the Hurricanes in the Countryside championship in Fergus Falls on Sunday.
