By Alan Van Ormer
Weekly editor

Garretson Post #23 scored three runs in the first, three runs in the third, five runs in the fourth and three more in the fifth to defeat Platte-Geddes, 14-9 and win the Groton Tournament on July 12-13.
The third, fourth and fifth hitters in the lineup went 8-9 including a home run, two triples and two doubles. Nick Bonte went 3-3 with a home run, triple and single. Austin Vanhove also went 3-3 with a double and two singles. Sam Quaintance had a triple and single. In addition, Shane Snyders had two singles, Travis Donelan had a double, and Cody Linneweber, Kyle Shanker and James Howe each had singles.
Ryan Bartels went four innings to earn the win and Casey Johnson finished the game.
“Ryan put us in a good place to win the game by giving us four solid innings and Casey was just as fantastic for the final three. I was really impressed with those two tonight,” said coach Tim Wagner. “We hit the ball exceptionally well in the tournament. Everyone on this team plays an important role and they understand that.”
Six teams participated in the tournament. Post #23, Groton and Valley City, N.D. played in one pool. Platte-Geddes, Northville, N. D. and Ellendale, N.D. teamed in the other pool.
All the team’s in Garretson’s pool went 1-1, so the championship game was determined by run differential. Garretson ended up the top seed in its pool and played in the championship game.
In its first game, Post #23 was on the short end of the contest, losing to Valley City, 8-7.
A grand slam helped Valley City to tie the game in the sixth inning. The North Dakota team won the game in the seventh inning.
Garretson pounded out 15 hits. Snyders had three hits (all singles) to lead the hitting attack. James Howe was 2-2 with a double. Shad Quissell also had two hits with a double. Bonte and Quaintance each had two singles. Linneweber, Vanhove, Shanker and Donelan all added base hits.
Vanhove pitched the first four innings and Bartels finished the last three.
Post #23 rebounded from the loss to defeat Groton, 7-2. Shanker cracked a three-run homer in the third inning to give Garretson a 4-0 lead and that was all it needed to post the win. Bonte went 4-4 including a double.
Shanker had a single to go with his home run. Snyders and Quaintance each had two singles. Linneweber, Quissell and Donelan also contributed singles.
Bonte and Howe handled the pitching chores. Bonte went three innings to earn the win. Howe finished the contest. Bonte allowed no hits, had five strike outs, walked two and gave up no runs.
“Both Nick and James were outstanding on the mound,” said Wagner. “We gave up only four hits and struck out eight batters. This shows you the talent of this team to bounce back after a tough morning loss. They never give up.”
Garretson, 11-3, is competing in the region baseball tournament in Salem.