Wahpeton Post 20 nearly pulled off the biggest upset of the 2025 North Dakota American Legion Baseball season to begin the Class “A” East Region Tournament on Thursday in Devils Lake.
Wahpeton, the No. 8 seed, fell short in a 5-4 loss to No. 1 Devils Lake.
Matt Petersen led off the seventh with a single and Riley Jones joined him on base via error. Both runners scored on consecutive sacrifice bunts by Brayden Steffens Cayson Pinsonneault.
Suddenly, Wahpeton held a 4-3 lead with three outs remaining for the Storm on its home diamond.
Three errors in the bottom of the seventh allowed Devils Lake to avoid a first-round implosion when Trason Beck singled to score Max Palmer for the walk-off win.
Petersen led Wahpeton with a pair of singles. Jones also singled for Wahpeton’s only other hit on a quiet night in the batter’s box.
Carter Hockert started on the bump for Post 20. The righty tossed 96 pitches across six frames, allowing two earned runs on seven hits and a walk. Hockert recorded two strikeouts and hit four batters.
Aiden Hajek entered in relief and retired the first man he faced before Beck’s single plated the unearned run to seal the ballgame.
Palmer paced Devils Lake with two singles and a pair of runs scored. Six other Storm batters recorded one single in the victory.
Ben Larson took the hill for Devils Lake and pitched a complete game. The righty allowed three hits and three walks while striking out five. He was charged with three earned runs while earning the win.
Wahpeton remains alive in the double-elimination tournament, but will need to win two games before losing another to reach the state tourney. Devils Lake can punch its ticket to state with one more win at regions.
