Class B Roundup: Loboes get three named to All-State baseball team

The Jamestown Sun, N.D.
·3 min read

Jun. 5—MINOT — Members of the LaMoure/Litchville-Marion baseball program have historically been viewed as some of the best in North Dakota.

This year was no exception.

Three members of LLM's baseball team earned Class B All-State honors on Monday.

The Loboes headed into the 2023 NDHSAA Class B Baseball State Tournament with a 12-1 record and were the No. 3 overall seed. The Loboes have made five trips to State in the history of the program.

Due to inclement weather through the spring months, LaMoure/LM only played 13 total games before facing off against Shiloh Christian in the opening round of State.

Based on their performance it was clear 13 games — or 91 innings was all the reps the Loboes needed.

Jack Nitschke fired a two-hitter and the Loboes advanced to the Class B state baseball semifinals with a 2-0 win over the Skyhawks.

Nitschke allowed two walks and struck out seven. He set down 12 Shiloh batters in a row through the middle innings before walking one in the seventh.

The Loboes scored the game's first run in the second inning when Hanson led off with a double, moved to third on Nitschke's single and scored on the back end of a double steal. They added another run in the third inning when Dylan Carlson singled with one out and later scored on an error.

Carlson, Nitschke and Anthony Hanson all had two hits.

The momentum from the 2-0 shutout must have carried over to the semifinals.

LLM topped second-seeded Langdon/EM 12-8 to punch their ticket to the championship game. LLM has appeared in the last three state championship games.

Thompson, playing in the program's sixth Class B state title game in the last eight school years, defeated LLM 9-0 in the NDHSAA Class B Baseball State Tournament state title game.

This season, the Loboes were led by seniors Tate Mart, Connor Johnson, Anthony Hanson and Dylan Carlson. Prior to the state tourney, the four combined to hit .328, 33 RBIs and 55 stolen bases. All four pitched going a combined 6-0 with 65 strikeouts. Both Mart and Johnson had a 0.00 ERA.

Johnson and Mart were named to the 2023 First-Team All-State Team while Hanson picked up second-team honors.

2023 Class B Baseball All-State Team

First Team

Tate Mart, LaMoure/LM

Connor Johnson, LaMoure/LM

Brayden Wolfgram, Thompson

Grady Shipman, Carrington

Keegan Neva, Northern Cass

Masen Allmaras, Kindred

Cole Hebl, Hillsboro/CV

Jack Romfo, Langdon/EM

Tony Villarreal, Grafton

Dane Hagler, North Star

Brody Schneibel, Rugby

Coltan Francis, Surrey/Our Redeemer's

Carson Merck, Bishop Ryan

Noah Erickson, Surrey/Our Redeemer's

Carson Yale, Des Lacs-Burlington

Paxton Ystaas, Des Lacs-Burlington

Michael Fagerland, Shiloh Christian

Trace King, Shiloh Christian

Second Team

Anthony Hanson, LaMoure/LM

Reece Berberich, Thompson

Carter Tetrault, Langdon/EM

Mason Romfo, Langdon/EM

Carson Haerer, Bottineau

Drew Zwak, Bishop Ran

Hank Bodine, Velva/Drake-Anamoose

Kellan Henry, Renville County

Rylan Olson, Des Lacs-Burlington

Tyson Wick, Hazen

Eli Thompson, Shiloh Christian

Marshall Judisch, May-Port-C-G

Derek Carpenter, Hatton/Northwood

Landon Koenig, May-Port-C-G

NDHSCA POWERade Outstanding Senior Athlete — Jack Romfo, Langdon/EM

NDHSCA SUBWAY Coach of the Year — Nathan Soulis, Thompson