Thompson at Ada-Borup-West

Recap

Two of the best baseball teams in the Red River Valley went toe-to-toe Wednesday afternoon. North Dakota’s last remaining undefeated Class B team, and two-time defending state champion, Thompson (11-0), hosted an Ada-Borup-West (6-1) squad who only allowed a combined five runs in their last six games. What started out with a pitcher’s duel ended in a walk-off 3-2 victory for the Tommies.

The game was scoreless through the first 4.5 innings. Thompson broke through in the bottom of the 5th thanks in part to a miscue from Cougar starting pitcher, Baron Odden. After a Thompson leadoff walk from Thomas Schumacher, Odden snatched the first out of the inning off a lineout from Drew Overby. Odden caught Schumacher way off the bag at first, but overthrew the glove of first baseman, Cannon Anderson, allowing Schumacher to safely reach second. Will Welke’s RBI single brought Schumacher home to make it 1-0 Thompson after the 5th.

The very next half inning, the Cougars would take advantage of a Thompson error to score its first run. A leadoff single from Brennen Fetting got Ada-Borup-West off to a good start in the top of the 6th. Two batters later, Cameron Spaeth hit a line-drive towards Overby at second. Overby, losing the ball in the sun, dropped it, allowing Fetting to score and equal the game at one each.

With the score still tied at one entering the top of the 7th, the Cougars would claim their first lead of the game. Back-to-back doubles to start the inning led to an Odden RBI, scoring Lance Kritzberger, to make it 2-1 ABW. Thompson though would have the last say in the bottom of the 7th. With ABW’s ace Odden out of pitches, Fetting came on the mound in relief. Thompson seized the opportunity, rattling off four straight hits including an RBI double by Brayden Wolfgram, bringing home Overby, and an RBI squeeze bunt by Brody Gibson, bringing home Wolfgram for the walk-off win.

Wolfgram’s base running also gave him the win on the mound while Fetting takes the loss for the Cougars. Wolfgram and starter Drew Odenbach combined for ten strikeouts, allowing just five hits, two earned runs, and no walks. Odden nearly pitched his second straight complete game, lasting six innings while tallying seven strikeouts, allowing five hits, and three walks.

Thompson stays undefeated at 12-0 while Ada-Borup-West falls to 6-2. The Cougars take the long road trip to Northern Freeze Thursday, weather permitting, while Thompson will host Langdon Area/Edmore/Munich and Central Cass in a triangular on Saturday.

           R H E LOB

ABW: 2  5  1  5

THO:  3  9  2  2