JAMESTOWN, N.D. -- Dickinson wiped out an early deficit to breeze back into the North Dakota state Class A baseball tournament semifinals on Thursday at Jack Brown Stadium.
Down 3-0 early, the Midgets went ahead for good with a six-run third en route to a 10-4 win over Devils Lake.
"It wasn't the greatest start in the world, but the kids showed some resiliency and we swung the bats better than we have in a couple of weeks," Dickinson coach Pete Dobitz said.
Jared Schmidt's three-run home run in the top of the first gave the Firebirds an early lead.
The Midgets chipped away with single runs in the first and second before a long bottom of the third.
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After Devils Lake pitcher Ethan Kleinknecht got Eric Seiler to ground out to start the inning, Cole Frenzel blasted a majestic solo home run over the right-fence and the James River, tying it at 3-all.
The next five batters all reached and scored. Stephen Laylock followed Frenzel's missle with a single. Michael Steve walked before Ross Kovacs loaded the bases with a single.
Tommy Peters then doubled deep into left-center field, bringing in two runners for a 5-3 lead. With runners on second and third, designated hitter Connor McNeilly followed with another double chasing in Kovacs and Peters home to make it 7-3.
Still not done, No. 9 hitter Kyle Breen singled into center field, scoring McNeilly with the sixth run of the inning.
The Midgets pounded out 14 hits in the game, scoring in every inning but the sixth.
Peters went 3-for-3, drove in three, scored twice and prevented two more. His sparkling, sprawling catch in center field with two outs and two on in the top of the second inning stole a two-run double from David Gutschmidt and potential 5-1 Devils Lake lead.
"When I was running after it, I knew if I could get to it, it would save two runs," Peters said. "I laid out and was able to get it. Those types of catches are fun to make."
It was a game-changer, Dobitz said.
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"That was a championship-caliber play," Dobitz said. "That catch prevented at least two runs. That was a huge play in the game."
Frenzel, Kovacs, McNeilly and Caleb Burgard also had two hits for the Midgets (21-9).
After a rocky start, Seiler allowed just one run over the final six innings en route to his fourth win of the season.
Josh Traynor had two of the Firebirds' six hits.
Minot 8, Fargo North 1: Ryan Bollinger's arm and bat were too much for Fargo North.
Minot's powerful, lanky, lefty clubbed a grand slam and went the distance on the mound as the Magicians rolled to win No. 22 as they breezed past North.
Fargo South 3, Bismarck Century 2: Fargo South'sKyle Kingsley was a little better than Century's Hunter Johnson in the opening game of the state tournament.
The big Fargo South right-hander made three first-inning runs stand up in the Bruins' win.
