Sean Williams/MDN Kellan Burke (3) of Minot High drives the ball during a game against the Watford City Wolves on Thursday.

Thursday was the final time that Morgan Nygaard, Jayden Speraw, Tyler Collins, Hunter Horner, Noah Stenvold, Mason Zietz, Eli Nissen, and Tyler Buchanan all took the field together in the Magic City.

With the weather causing issues over the last few days, their final regular season game couldn’t take place where it normally would at Corbett Field, as Minot (16-6 overall, 13-5 West Region) hosted the Watford City Wolves (3-22 overall, 0-16 West Region) at Hoeven Park to close out the regular season.

Coming off a huge sweep of the Legacy Sabers on Monday, the Magi were able to continue their winning ways and continue playing great baseball as they swept the Wolves on Thursday. Minot took game one by a final of 7-0 and game two by a final of 17-1, as the senior class helped close out the regular season strongly.

Kellan Burke broke open the scoring in game one with a two-run triple that scored Easton Panasuk and Nygaard, then courtesy runner Tyson Ruzicka scored on a Collins groundout to give Minot a 3-0 lead in the first inning.

Adding a run in each of the next two innings on a Stenvold single and Ruzicka scoring on a wild pitch, the Magi came out to the tune of a balanced, consistent attack as they held a 5-0 lead at the end of three.

Showing off speed and power once again was Burke, who had another RBI triple in the bottom of the fifth. Collins added an RBI single in the inning which brought the game to its final of 7-0 in favor of Minot.

On the mound, Adam Roedocker was dominant for Minot. He went for six innings, allowing no runs on one hit with one walk and eight strikeouts. The lone hit Roedocker gave up came in the sixth inning, and it was quickly eliminated on an inning-ending double play. Nygaard also helped out on the mound, going for one inning while allowing no runs on no hits with two strikeouts.

At the plate, Burke led the way by going 2-for-3 with two triples and three RBI, followed by Collins who went 1-for-4 with two RBI, and Stenvold who went 1-for-4 with an RBI. Judd Johnsrud picked up the lone hit for the Wolves.

Game two featured a much bigger offensive showing by Minot, as they topped the Wolves 17-1 and did most of their damage in one inning. Ruzicka got the party started on an RBI single, driving in Zietz who walked earlier in the frame, as Minot claimed a 1-0 lead in the second.

In the next inning, the bats came alive in a big way as Minot was able to put 15 runs on the scoreboard. RBI singles from Jaxson Radke, Roedocker, Buchanan and Nygaard, two-run singles from Braden Nelson and Burke, and Nelson and Ruzicka getting hit by a pitch with the bases loaded highlighted the massive inning by Minot that gave them a 16-0 advantage.

Watford City put their only run on the board in the next inning when Tysen Kuchenbuch drove a run in on a groundout. In the bottom half of the frame, Ruzicka brought the game to its final score on an RBI single, making it a 17-1 game in favor of Minot.

Following a similar script, game two made way for another strong pitching performance from Minot. Collins got the start and tossed four innings, allowing one run on three hits with no walks and two strikeouts. Horner finished the game off with one scoreless inning.

Nelson, Nygaard, and Ruzicka all drove in three runs each to lead the way for Minot, followed by Buchanan who went 2-for-2 with a walk and two RBI, Burke who went 3-for-3 with a double and two RBI, and Panasuk who went 1-for-5 with an RBI.

Jason Hogue, Paco Baldenegro and Johnsrud all had one hit each to lead Watford City in game two.

Pitching has proved to be a large part of Minot’s current run of success. The team has allowed a total of two runs in their last five games. They have a +40 run differential during that span as well.

Up next is the West Region Tournament, where the Magi will make their way to Jamestown next Thursday for what will hopefully be a run to secure a state tournament bid. The West Region Tournament will begin on Thursday and conclude on Saturday.