It's getting crowded at the top of the West Region baseball standings, but Dickinson is working hard to make some elbow room. We're starting to play with consistency now. Bismarck also has just two losses and Minot, after falling to St. Mary's on Monday, has three, rounding out the four-team race. We're worried about what Mandan does.
Every team controls their own destiny.
A lack of control really hurt the Braves Monday. Mandan pitchers issued 14 walks and hit three batters. The arms of Mandan's fielders weren't much more accurate, as the Braves' normally tight defense committed eight errors. Two Mandan errors helped Dickinson grab a 3-0 lead in the top of the first of the opener. Run-scoring singles by Nathan Burgard and Josh Erickson helped as well.