North Dakota Blanks Minnesota In Little League Midwest Regional

WESTFIELD, IN — Minnesota has lost to North Dakota in the Little League Baseball Midwest regional tournament Wednesday in a shut out. The Coon Rapids Andover American LL (2-1) lost 6-0 to the Fargo Little League all stars (3-0). Minnesota is not eliminated yet though. The team will play Friday morning in the semi-finals and North Dakota advanced directly to the championship game, which will be played Saturday morning.

North Dakota pitcher Jordan Leininger tossed a gem, striking out 12 batters over six innings and allowing just six hits. Fargo plated three runs in the second inning and another three in the fifth inning. The team was able to get 10 hits off Coon Rapids pitcher Luke Dehnicke, who finished the day with nine strikeouts and five earned runs over 4.1 innings. Leininger helped his own cause by getting two hits and an RBI. Landon Meier finished the day with one hit, two RBI and a run scored while Andrew Kankelfritz contributed two hits, one RBI and one run scored.

Minnesota's bats couldn't get it going though, with only Anthony Pardo getting multiple hits (two). The team combined for 12 strikeouts on the day.

The Midwest champion will go on to play the Mid-Atlantic champion Aug. 16.

Rosters:

Minnesota

Chase Pemberton

Luke Dehnicke

Anthony Pardo

Jackson Clough

Mason Hoheisel

Dylan Kirchner

Jayden Kopp

Henry Myos

Sam Poser

Evan Freking

Max Hoheisel

Zach Novak

North Dakota

Adam Leininger

Jordan Leininger

Connor Holm

Drew Rerick

Charlie Kalbrener

Landon Meier

Andrew Kankelfritz

Jake Jeroszewski

Bo Meier

Logan Sullivan

Ethan Welk

Tommy Simon

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