Post 2 knocks off Grand Forks in North Dakota Legion state tourney quarterfinals

FARGO — Top-seeded Fargo Post 2 rode stiff pitching to defeat the No. 9 Grand Forks Royals 9-0 in the quarterfinals of the North Dakota American Legion state baseball tournament at Starion Bank Field.

Post 2 starter Carson Shiek proved a tricky task for Royals hitters. Shiek allowed only one hit and one walk with four strikeouts in six innings to pick up the win.

Shiek said a blend of pitches helped keep Grand Forks guessing at the plate.

“(My) slider was amazing today,” Shiek said. “It really helped in the late and early counts. My fastball had a lot of tail on it today, which is great. It really got the hitters off balance.”

Landon Hale closed out the game in the seventh inning, granting two hits and striking out two.

“I liked how we executed when we needed to,” said Post 2 head coach Luke Rustad.

Post 2 found the run column in the first inning when Connor Holm ripped a double into the alley in right-center field to score Adam Leininger from first base.

Fargo added two more runs in the second inning. Post 2 left fielder Wyatt Kosidowski laid down a sacrifice bunt to score Jaxon Beiswenger.

Beiswenger, who walked, reached third base on a Jordan Leininger single to left field.

Leininger reached third on the throw on the play and Jonah DeJong knocked him in with a sacrifice fly.

Post 2’s Sam Ovsak and Adam Leininger opened the third inning with back-to-back singles. Ovsak advanced to third on a wild pitch and was scored on Holm’s sacrifice fly.

Fargo broke open the game with a five-run sixth inning. Leininger drove an RBI single to right field to score Jaxon Beiswenger. DeJong walked to load the bases and Landon Meier knocked a two-run single to left field, scoring Meier and Wyatt Kosidowski. DeJong and Meier then both scored on a wild pitch.

Holm paced Post 2 going 2-for-3 with a double and two RBIs. Adam Leininger and Jordan Leininger also had two hits.

Grand Forks’ Brayden Brevik, Adrian Gonzales and Matt Dosch all had a hit. Rylen Kotrynta worked all six innings and struck out two.

“(Post 2) played some small ball on us and executed well,” said Royals head coach Nick Chine. ” It’s win or go home from here on out.”

Grand Forks will continue their tournament in the losers bracket at 11 a.m. on Thursday, Aug. 1.

Post 2 will face off against the winner of No. 5 Fargo Post 400 and No. 4 Minot in the winners bracket semifinals at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, July 31.

“The pitchers have to keep throwing strikes and stay consistent,” Shiek said. “We have to keep putting up runs and keep the bats hot.”

After graduating from North Dakota State University, Haugland joined the Forum in January of 2023. Readers can reach him at 701-241-5508 or by emailing ahaugland@forumcomm.com