Staying Alive

By Sam Peterson

Grant County Herald

The Dumont Saints kept their season alive this weekend in the first round of the Class C State Tournament. In their opening game Aug. 23 in New Prague, Dumont picked up a win over the Luverne Redbirds by the score of 3-1 to stay alive for at least another week.

Dumont wasted no time in the game and in the bottom of the first frame when Austin Ballhagen scored when Teague Nachbor was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to make it 1-0. Two innings later, the Saints doubled their advantage when Teague Nachbor hit a single to allow Eli Larson to score to make it 3-0 through three innings. Luverne did get on the board in the top of the fifth inning with a single run to make it 2-1. The Saints pushed the lead back to two runs when Teague Nachbor scored off a bunt single from Kussatz to make it 3-1. Dumont locked up defensively the final four innings, recording 1-2-3 innings in all three to secure the two-run win and advance to the second round of the state tournament.

Teague Nachbor led the way for the Saints on offense, going 2 for 3 with two RBI. Austin Ballhagen finished 1 for 4 with a run scored. Pat Kussatz was 1 for 4 with an RBI and Caden Olsen finished 1 for 2.

Jordon Roos pitched all nine innings for the Saints and allowed no earned runs off just three hits and struck out eight.

The Dumont Saints advance to the second round where they will take on the Elrosa Saints Saturday, Aug. 29 back in New Prague with the first pitch set for 6:30 p.m.

Luverne 000 010 000 – 1

Dumont 101 001 00X – 3

Hitting – Teague Nachbor 2-3, R, RBI-2; Austin Ballhagen 1-4, R; Pat Kussatz 1-4, RBI; Caden Olsen 1-2; Eli Larson 0-2, R, BB, SB; Isaiah Sykora 0-2, BB

Pitching (ip-h-r-er-bb-so) – Jordon Roos (W) 9-3-1-0-0-8