Fargo Shanley powers to ND Class A state baseball crown

DICKINSON, N.D. — Fargo Shanley was playing in its third state championship game in four seasons and senior shortstop Tommy Simon has started in all three.

Simon and the Deacons weren’t going to be denied Saturday after title games losses in 2021 and 2022.

Landon Meier and Simon both cracked home runs and drove in three runs each to spark the Deacons to an 11-6 victory against Bismarck Legacy for the North Dakota Class A state baseball championship at Dakota Community Bank & Trust Ballpark.

“It means just about everything,” said Simon, who has committed to play baseball at Nebraska. “I’ve kind of given my life to baseball since I was 12. It’s pretty nice to win one for my school. … It would have sucked to go 0-for-3 (in title games) and I’m really glad we didn’t.”

Shanley won its first state title since 2013.

“I was excited for them to be able to finish this off,” Shanley head coach Luke Rustad said of his team.

Meier went 3-for-4 and also scored three runs. Simon was 2-for-4 and scored two runs. Both had doubles to go along with their home runs.

“The entire lineup was hitting the ball very hard,” Simon said. “It was great to see.”

The Deacons built a 10-2 lead in the top of the fifth inning before Legacy scored three in the bottom of the fifth and another in the sixth to narrow the gap.

In the first inning, Adam Leininger drove in a run on a ground out, Simon belted a solo home run and a third run scored on an error.

Legacy scored two in the second to make it 3-2, but the Deacons got both runs back in the third on Simon’s two-run double.

In the fourth inning, Landon Meier doubled in two runs and a third scored on a Legacy error. Boden Meier drew a bases-loaded walk to make it 9-2. Landon Meier made it 10-2 with a solo homer in the fifth.

“That’s my guy,” Simon said of Landon Meier. “I’m going to be pretty sad that our time together could be over.”

In the sixth, Jordan Leininger was hit by a pitch, Quinn Miller singled and Boden Meier walked to load the bases. Landon Hale followed with a sacrifice fly to left to drive in Jordan Leininger for an 11-5 lead.

“Every time they got a run, we answered back,” Rustad said.

Legacy’s Drew Beasley was 2-for-4 with a double and three RBIs.

Greg Noel started for Shanley and went two innings. Hale relieved and worked the final five, giving up three earned runs on four hits, striking out four and walking one.

Simon said it was nice to see classmates who don’t play baseball make the trip to Dickinson for the title game.

“It’s a special group of guys in this class,” Simon said. “That was sweet. It was a good bunch of them that made the trip.”

Rustad said this team had a special resolve.

“I think the biggest thing is they didn’t ride an emotional roller-coaster,” Rustad said. “They just played mature. They were focused. Baseball is about being consistent.”

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