May 6, 2024
DICKINSON, N.D. – Top-seeded Bellevue (Neb.) shook off their slow start in the 2024 North Star Athletic Association Baseball Postseason Tournament’s championship game Monday afternoon at Dakota Community Bank & Trust Ballpark, hosted by Dickinson State (N.D.). Fifth-seeded Waldorf (Iowa) jumped to a 3-0 early lead but were outscored by the Bruins 16-4 for the rest of the game.
BU earned a 16-7 victory over WU to claim their three-peat tournament postseason champion, despite facing windy, drizzle, and cloudy conditions. The Bruins halted the Warriors’ postseason run (4-2 record in the postseason tournament, with both setbacks from Bellevue), ending their season at 23-28 overall record.
Bellevue, who went undefeated in the tournament with a 3-0 record, raised their overall record to 39-12. The Bruins will represent the North Star Athletic Association as they find out who they will play in the NAIA National Tournament Opening Round, via NAIA’s YouTube Selection Show on Thursday at 4 p.m. (Central Time).
The Warriors used a fast start for the second straight game, ignited by Rylee Rauch’s lead-off double. Zach Meyer hit an RBI single to score Rauch to give WU the first lead of the game at 1-0.
With bases loaded situation and two outs, Nathan Westfield hit a 2-RBI single to balloon the Warriors’ lead to 3-0 in the top first.
Bellevue snapped their slow start after pouring in four runs in the bottom fourth, highlighted by Steven Elsners’ 2-run home run and an RBI triple by Tyler Monroe. Nick Grade followed up with an RBI to give BU a 4-3 lead.
Kolby Amaral answered with a 2-run home run blast as the Warriors regained their lead at 5-4 in the top fifth.
The Bruins scored at least a run in each inning for the rest of the game, scoring 12 straight runs including a six-run explosion in the fifth inning.
Bellevue’s six-run explosion in the bottom fifth was highlighted by a 3-run home run by Monroe that hit the right field foul pole and capped with an RBI infield double after hitting the pop-up infield with no to catch the ball. BU led 10-5 after five innings.
The Bruins made it 11-5 in the bottom sixth after an RBI double from Anthony Lind.
Leading 12-5 before entering the bottom eighth, Elsner hit his second home run to lead off the inning for a 13-5 lead. The Bruins plated three more runs to make it 16-5.
Peter Ordonio hit a 2-run home run for Waldorf in the top ninth frame to round out the final score at 16-7.
Elsner sparked the Bruins’ offense attack with three extra-bases hits (2 home runs, double) and drove in three runs. Monroe added a home run, single, and collected four RBIs. Lind was 4-for-4 at the plate with two RBIs. Jake Lacey tallied two hits and an RBI. Grade, Grant, and Tradd Richardson each had a hit and an RBI.
Brady Toth started the game on the pitching mound for Bellevue, tossing three innings and giving up three runs (two unearned) on five hits. Jace Wessels (W, 3-0) earned the victory after working for five innings in relief. He allowed two runs on three hits.
Amaral and Ordonio each hit a home run and earned two RBIs for Waldorf. Meyer added two hits and an RBI. Ian Carr had two singles. Westfield tallied a single and two RBIs.
Gavin Williams started the game for the Warriors, tossing 3 1/3 innings with three runs and two hits allowed. Kade Hobbs (L, 0-2) took the defeat in relief, giving up seven runs (two unearned) on four hits. Alex Tallman, Evan Kroll, and Bernardo Cortez each pitched in relief.