Midgets launch WDA tourney appearance with mercy-rule win

May 28—MANDAN, N.D. — Dickinson High School clinched a semi-final spot in the Western Dakota Association tournament following an 11-0 blowout over Bismarck St. Mary's on Thursday. The Midgets entered the tourney as the top seed and extended the momentum of a 16-game winning streak.

Seniors, pitcher Carson Weiler and shortstop Troy Berg, were the heroes of the evening, combining solid play on defense and offense to work toward near perfection.

"I told the boys, 'We have to try and get them out here and get us three runs to get off the field,' and they did." Pete Dobitz,DHS head coach, said. "Carson Weiler exceeded my expectations. He had a little run in with Bast out there in Williston that time and was a little shook up physically and it was good to see that he rebounded and healed up and he is good to go on the mound again."

Weiler held the mound for the entirety of the five inning game, collecting the win in a shut-out performance that kept the bullpen saved for another day. Striking out five batters, one inning coming courtesy of a "three up, three down" outing.

The Midgets bats were hot out of the gates, with their lead off hitter Jace Kovash smashing a triple on the second pitch before being driven home by Berg on a groundout to start the game.

The Saints' two errors in the game were costly, resulting in unearned runs for a Midget squad already capable of securing them without the assistance. By the end of the second inning Dickinson had taken a commanding lead of 5-0.

Berg would cross the plate for the second time on the day in the bottom of the fourth to extend the score 7-0.

Third baseman Britton Cranston's RBI double off a center line drive would bring in Jadon Bast, before Berg's final offensive contribution in the batter's box would see the power hitter go yard via a three-run bomber to left field to end the game.

"I just went up trying to hit the ball hard and try to drive in those two runs to end the game," Berg said. "I had the right approach, sat on a curve ball and hit it hard."

Dickinson set their eyes on No. 4 Bismarck Century as their next opponent after they defeated the lower seed Jamestown.

"We are ready to go right now and we all want it just as bad," Berg said. "I think we are going to come in every game the rest of the year wanting everything."