Middle River uses solid pitching and aggressive baserunning to beat Stephen-Argyle

The Middle River Post 444 had a solid pitching performance and outstanding baserunning to beat the Stephen-Argyle Post 353 and 390 American Legion Baseball team in a Northwest Sub-State North Division play-in game in Argyle.

FIRST INNING-
Middle River was retired in 1-2-3 fashion with a pop out and two strikeouts.
Stephen-Argyle’s Shay Settholm led off with a double to the right-center field gap. Mason Smith singled, and Sebastian Johnson doubled to score two runs for a 2-0 lead. After a groundout, Ryan Swanson walked, and Reid Rivard had a sacrifice fly that scored Johnson for a 3-0 lead.

SECOND INNING-
Middle River’s Trig Anderson and Payton Gust walked to start the inning. Tanner Torgerson had a sacrifice bunt to move the runners to second and third base. Two runs scored on a pair of wild pitches to bring Middle River within a 3-2 deficit. Alex Bray and Jaxon Melcher walked before Tate Bakke singled to score a run. Eizen Olson singled to score a run, as did Sawyer Torgerson, for a 5-3 lead. Olson was on third base and stole home to score the sixth run of the inning for a 6-3 lead.
Stephen-Argyle was retired in 1-2-3 fashion.

THIRD INNING –
Both teams were retired in a 1-2-3 fashion, and Middle River took a 6-3 lead into the fourth inning.

FOURTH INNING-
Middle River’s Bakke started the inning with a single, Olson followed with a single, and after an out, Augustine singled to score a run. Trig Anderson grounded out to score a run, and another run scored on a passed ball for a 9-3 lead.
The first two Stephen-Argyle batters were retired before Carson Anderson singled. The Anderson hit was the first Stephen-Argyle hit since the first inning. Anders Thompson followed with a single, and Wyatt Myrfield was hit by a pitch to load the bases. A run scored on an error, and Stephen-Argyle trailed 9- 4.

FIFTH INNING-
Middle River was retired in 1-2-3 fashion.
Stephen-Argyle’s Sebastian Johnson led off with a single and Rylan Anderson hit a line drive off the right field fence and the Middle River rightfielder played in perfectly and threw to second base to get the runner for the first out of the inning. A few pitches later, Stephen-Argyle was caught stealing second for the second out and the next batter struck out.

SIXTH INNING-
With one out, Middle River’s Eizen Olson was hit by a pitch and Sawyer Torgerson and Kelby Augustine walked. Olson stole home and a little bit later, Torgerson also stole home and Middle River led 11-4.
Stephen-Argyle’s Carson Anderson had a bloop single into shallow centerfield with one out. The next two batters were retired.

SEVENTH INNING-
Middle River was retired in 1-2-3 fashion.
Stephen-Argyle was also retired in 1-2-3 fashion, including a great diving catch by Middle River rightfielder Payton Gust and Middle River won the game 11-4.

Stephen-Argyle ends the season with a 3-5 record. Middle River improves to 4-9 on the year and will play Crookston in the first round of the Northwest Sub-state North division tournament on Saturday at 11:00 a.m.