By Jon Akre

605 Sports

The first quarterfinal game of the tournament started with some heavy innings for both teams, Dimock/Emery struck first scoring three runs on a Drew Kitchens RBI-double and another Jason Schmidt RBI-single in the second, and again in the third with two runs on back-to-back base hits by Doug Sudbeck and Chase Arend, including a triple by Arend.

“I think that’s what you call a team victory,” said Schmidt. “I think everybody contributed in some fashion, whether it was in the 11 hits or in the field. We had a lot of good plays out there to keep some runs off the board.”

But the Diamonds were able to match the offensive output by the Raptors, scoring two runs in the third and three in the fifth.

“You have to execute and you got to limit big innings to stay in it against them, cause they’re a very good baseball team," said Bartscher.

Schmidt started on the mound for the Raptors going 4.1 innings, allowing five runs on nine hits and a walk while striking out four.

“I could’ve done better that’s for sure,” said Schmidt. “Their top four are very solid hitters. I  played against most of them in college and they’re still really good. Brad made the right move by pulling me, that's for sure.”

After a scoreless sixth inning, the Raptors tacked on two more runs on a Sam Pischke double before the game went into a weather delay for a short rain shower that lasted just twelve minutes.

“Some of the guys said a twelve minute delay, and they stiffened up a little bit  so I was hoping we wouldn’t come out flat,” said Bartscher. “I keep telling them next guy up and they’ve been doing that, whether you strike out or get a hit, just stay focused and keep getting the next guy to the plate and get something done.’

Following the delay, Dimock/Emery scored another three runs in the seventh with a passed ball and another triple, this time by Josh Engquist.

“Up and down the lineup, it’s amazing what they’ve been doing,” said Bartscher. “They’ve all been feeding off of each other. I’ve been throwing different lineups together and throwing different guys out there and everybody’s producing.”

With Schmidt exiting the game, the Raptors brought in Phil Johnson to close out the final 4.2 innings, allowing just two runs on five hits and a walk.

“He (Schmidt) got the game to Phil and that’s all we wanted to do,” said Bartscher. “Get the game to Phil, shorten it up the best we could and go after it.”

The Raptors advanced to Saturday’s semifinals for the first time since 2021 when they lost a 5-1 contest against the Flandreau Cardinals.

“We got through the miracle game the other night, and hopefully the momentum will just keep going,” said Bartscher. “This team has really gelled well late in the season. In districts, you know we struggled a little bit, found a way to get in, and I told the guys we got to find a way in and see what happens.”

Offensively, Schmidt drove in a run on three hits and a walk, Kitchens, Pischke, and Engquist each drove in two runs on one hit, Arend tallied an RBI on two hits and a walk, Sudbeck drove in a run on one hit, while Peyton Nash tallied two hits in the victory.

The Raptors will face the Platte Killer Tomatoes on Saturday at 5:30 p.m.