By Owen Patterson

MINOT, ND – From the first pitch to the final out, it was nine innings full of anticipation of a Hot Tots comeback, but in the end, Minot would fall just short of a home win on Harry Potter Night. The visiting La Crosse Loggers picked up the win by a score of 3-2.

In the first inning, La Crosse was the first to strike with hits by RJ Hamilton and Matthew Miura, with Miura’s being the RBI hit. The Hot Tots would strand two runners in scoring position, keeping the Loggers in the lead, 1-0 after one.

Starting pitchers Aidan Reicheck (Minot) and Brayden Marx (La Crosse) would silence opposing bats in the second and third innings, but in the fourth, the offenses were back in the swing of things. 

La Crosse extended their lead on a run-scoring single by Derrick Mitchell and again courtesy of Tyman Long’s double to push the score to 3-0 in favor of the Loggers.

Minot would find success at the plate with a leadoff hit by Evan Dempsey followed shortly by a two-run home run off the bat of catcher Lucas Pringle. The attitude had shifted throughout the stadium with the Tots now within one.

The rest of the way was a struggle of dominant pitching and eye-popping defense. In the bottom of the fifth, La Crosse would bring in relief pitcher Ashton Mikech. Mikech would wow the crowd with five no-hit innings on the mound. Mikech was perfect through 4.2 before walking Adam Berghult in the bottom of the ninth with the Hot Tots still down 2-3. Mikech would face the home run hitter from earlier on, Lucas Pringle. After a long battle, Mikech would complete a mind-boggling five inning save with a strikeout.

The First Command Play of the Game was made by Jack Matousek of the Hot Tots for his diving catch in right field, robbing extra bases from Derrick Mitchell.

The series, as well as the homestand for Minot, concludes tomorrow at 6:35 pm against La Crosse.