Kari Gibb/MDN Minot State University redshirt freshman, Ayden Sauerbrei (14) covers first base from the mound for the out as Nova Southeastern University sophomore Sam Holthaus (23) fielded the ball and made the throw and University of California redshirt freshman Xavier Esquer (22) backs them up in the second to last game of the season on Friday, August 9, against the MoonDogs at Corbett Field.

The Minot Hot Tots will play their last game of the 2024 Northwoods League season at Corbett Field today, August 10, at Corbett Field. The Tots came off a road trip to host the Mankato MoonDogs for two games. Saturday will be the final game of the season against the MoonDogs.

Mankato MoonDogs 1,

Hot Tots 0

The Mankato MoonDogs made the trip to Minot for the last two games of the regular season. Game one was played Friday, August 9, at Corbett Field and the fans had to endure seven innings of scoreless baseball. Mankato scored one run at the top of the eighth inning when Nico Libed was walked with bases loaded to score Matthew Fleischhacker for the 1-0 lead going into the bottom of the eighth inning.

No runs were scored at the bottom of the eighth or the top of the ninth inning. Minot had the bottom of the ninth to score one run to tie and two runs to win the game. With one out, Adrian Dominguez was walked to put the tying run on first. With two outs, Sam Holthaus was the last hope for the game to continue and was struck out to end the game.

Minot was 5-for-31 at the plate with two errors as a team. Jaden Alberson was 2-for-3 at the plate while Anthony Potestio, Xavier Esquer and Dominguez each had a hit in the close game. The Hot Tots did leave 6 batters on base.

Ayden Sauerbrei pitched seven and one-third innings and allowed one run on four hits, walked two batters and struck out two as well. Tanner Mueller pitched one and two-third innings, walked four batters and tallied one strikeout in relief.

Mankato was 4-for-31 batting with one error as a team. Dylan Waite pitched seven and two-third innings and allowed five hits and recorded nine strikeouts. Nate Zyzda pitched one and one-third innings and walked one batter and tallied three strikeouts in relief.

Hot Tots 10, Badlands Big Sticks 9 (11)

DICKINSON – In the second game of the two played on the road, Minot and Badlands went to battle at the plate. The Hot Tots had 14 hits compared to nine for the Big Sticks that led to the 10-9 win in the end.

Minot scored three runs at the top of the third, two at the top of the fourth and top of the 11th inning with one run at the top of the sixth, eighth and tenth innings. Badlands scored two runs at the bottom of the fourth, fifth, seventh and one run at the bottom of the third, tenth and 11th innings. Holding the Big Sticks to one run at the bottom of the 11th kept the game from going into the 12th inning or a win for Badlands.

Minot was 14-for-44 at the plate with two errors as a team. Peyton Becker was 4-for-7 batting with two RBIs. Keanu Jacobs-Guishard was 2-for-5 while Adrian Dominguez was 2-for-6 at the plate. Every Hot Tot batter had at least one hit in the win. Minot left 18 batters on base.

Dale Fry pitched four and one-third innings and allowed five hits- four earned- on five hits. Griffin Dosan pitched one and two-third innings and allowed two runs on two hits. Will Wojtasiak pitched one inning while Lucas Aguirre pitched three innings and allowed one run. Eli Niemiec pitched one inning and allowed one run on one hit in relief.

Badlands was 8-for-39 batting with one error as a team. Joshua Pernetti was 2-for-4 with two RBIs while Gabe Arcy was 2-for-6 with two RBIs as well. The Big Sticks left 12 on base.

Aidan Vanrider pitched three innings and allowed three runs- two earned- on four hits. Cooper Vanluchene pitched one inning and allowed two runs on one hit. Mitchell Mussler pitched four and one-third innings and allowed two runs on six hits. Evan Appelwick pitched one and two-third innings and allowed one run on one hit. Dawson Walls pitched one inning and allowed two runs on two hits in relief.