DICKINSON, N.D. – Top-seeded Bellevue (Neb.) scored in four consecutive innings to erase an early deficit and defeated Simpson (Calif.) 8-3 Friday afternoon in the North Star Athletic Association Baseball Tournament winner’s bracket at Dakota Community Bank & Trust Ballpark.
The Bruins (37-13 overall) used a balanced offensive attack that produced 12 hits from eight different players, highlighted by a pair of multi-RBI extra-base hits from Scott Hansen and Jordan Brandenburg. With the win, Bellevue advances to Saturday’s semifinal round and remains unbeaten in the double-elimination tournament.
Simpson (Calif.) struck first with a two-run home run by third baseman Cayden Lee in the fourth inning that plated Mario Catalan. The Red Hawks added a run in the sixth on a sacrifice fly from Catalan that scored Dylan Leek to take a 3-2 lead.
Bellevue responded immediately, tying the game in the bottom of the fifth. Hansen singled and later scored on a Logan Grant RBI double to center field. Grant then came home on a base hit to right by Jake Lacey, knotting the game at two apiece.
After Simpson regained the lead in the top of the sixth, the Bruins answered again in their half of the inning. Elijah Tanner led off with an infield single before Brandenburg, pinch-hitting at shortstop, delivered the key swing of the game: a two-run home run to left field that gave Bellevue a 4-3 lead it would not relinquish.
In the seventh, pinch runner Jaylan Ruffin scored from second on Ayden Makarus’ RBI double to push the lead to 5-3. The Bruins tacked on three more in the bottom of the eighth. Nick Gravel reached on a walk, stole second, and advanced to third on an error. CJ Townsend drove him in with an infield single, and Hansen followed with a two-run home run to left that extended the lead to 8-3.
Grant led all hitters with three hits in five at-bats, including two doubles and an RBI. Hansen was 2-for-4 with two runs and three RBIs, while Townsend also had two hits and drove in a run. Lacey, Makarus, Tanner, and Gravel each contributed one hit and one RBI.
On the mound, Jace Wessels earned the win after working 7.2 innings, allowing five hits and three earned runs while striking out three. Teron Williams pitched the final 1.1 innings in relief, retiring all four batters he faced, including two strikeouts.
Simpson was limited to five hits in the game. Lee finished with a home run, two RBIs and a walk. Catalan went 1-for-3 with a run scored and one RBI. Dominic Folks and Leek also added singles for the Red Hawks.
Simpson starter Qorey Houston held Bellevue scoreless through four innings before giving up five earned runs on 10 hits over 6.2 innings of work. Geremy McCollough allowed three runs in relief during a two-out appearance in the eighth, including Hansen’s home run. Chandler Jones recorded the final two outs for Simpson.
The Bruins committed no errors and turned in a strong defensive effort behind their pitchers, while Simpson committed two defensive miscues and allowed a key stolen base in the eighth that led to a run.