The Official Newspaper for Foster County
The Official Newspaper for Foster County
After opening win, Cards drop out with losses to SNR, L-L-M -
Infielders Max Whitman and Grady Shipman nearly collide on this putout, the final out of a first inning in which SNR scored four runs and would later defeat the Cards, 11-1.
Corbin Clifton has his head down as he rounds the bases for his second home run of the tournament against SNR. It would be the only run the Cardinals would score against the Black Sox in the loss.
Seeding was largely rendered irrelevant in the 2024 spring high school baseball season, at least in Region 3.
The nominal top seed, the Carrington Cardinals, had three losses in league play, two coming to fifth and bottom seed LaMoure/Litchville-Marion and another to fourth-seeded South Border coming into Region 3 Tournament play in Steele this past Monday, May 20.
A 4-1 opening win over the Loboes for the Cards, sparked by a shutdown pitching performance by senior Grady Shipman with 16 strikeouts, would not end up being indicative of future success.
Third seeded SNR jumped all over CHS in the winner's bracket semifinal round, using a four-run first inning to ambush the Cards by an 11-1 score last Tuesday, and the Loboes got their revenge with a 7-4 win to eliminate Carrington from State B Tournament consideration.
The Black Sox got RBI singles from Brody Weisenburger and Lucas Yri to get things started, and a bases-loaded hit by pitch to Bradyn Collier and a sacrifice fly by Skye Kramlich finished the inning on a high note for SNR.
Corbin Clifton's solo home run, his second of the tourney following one in the opener, was the only Cardinal tally against the winning pitcher for the 'Sox, Easton Simon. Josh Bickett took the loss.
L-L-M scored seven runs in the first two innings in the knockout contest, and held off several rallies in the later innings to finish the Cards' season at an even 11-11.
Lobo freshman Colby Thielges came on for starter Jacob Nitschke after the latter hit his pitch count limit without giving up an out in the first inning, and would end up striking out 10 Cardinal hitters over what was essentially a complete game.
Thielges helped his own cause to start the proceedings with a two-run home run, and Max Musland drove in two more runs with a single for L-L-M to put Cardinal starter Clifton behind the eight ball early on.
Elimination in the tournament marked the end of the coaching career of Carrington's Wayne Shipman. He has been the only leader in the program's 22-year history of existence, and guided the Cards to seven state tournament appearances, including a state runner-up finish in 2015.
With the victory, the Loboes advanced to last Wednesday's championship series with SNR. The Black Sox needed just one win in the final two games to advance to the state Class B baseball tournament for the fifth time in program history, and the first appearance since 2000.
In game one, LaMoure/L-M staved off elimination with a 2-0 victory over the Sox, but SNR finished the job with a 9-2 win in the second championship to advance to Jack Brown Stadium in Jamestown May 30-June 1.
When they become available, boxscores from Carrington's games at the Region 3 Tournament will be published.
