May 2—DICKINSON — Heart River head coach Kurt Silbernagel predicted that pitching would be a struggle for his team at the start of the season, which was evident by the topsy-turvy box scores in their doubleheader split with Hettinger-Scranton Night Hawks. However, errors would be the second culprit, with the Cougars collecting 10 errors in total, six in their losing game.

The Heart River co-op managed a 5-2 victory to start the Region 8 double counter, but the second game would come to a close after 4.5 innings by way of a 14-2 finish. The Cougars sit second in the Region 8 standings, with a 2-2 record, 3-5 overall. The Night Hawks are not far behind, fourth in the standings with a record of 2-3, 2-5.

Luke Obrigewitch held the mound in game one for Heart River, delivering six strikeouts and giving up only two hits with no runs earned. Night Hawks' Hayden DeFoe started on the hill, retiring four batters before Tanner Blackwell would get the nod at the bottom of the sixth inning.

The Cougars took an early 2-0 lead at the bottom of the second inning, but it was anyone's game after Hettinger-Scranton tied it back up at the top of the fifth inning. Heart River kept agile with small-ball tactics, reclaiming the lead at the bottom of the inning. They would then cement the win, taking advantage of DeFoe giving up three late hit-by-pitches.

Kaden Zacher went 3-3 at bat to lead the Cougars in hits. Obrigewitch, Evan Walters, and Trevor Lefore each had a hit.

Night Hawks had four batters each collect a hit in Devin Greff, Tyler Wilson, Blackwell and Defoe.

Hettinger-Scranton took the loss of the first game personally and put the barrel to the ball. The Nights Hawks had three doubles in upperclassmen Maddox Pierce, Wilson and Bowden Hasbrouck, largely influencing the 10-run rule affair. Pierce went 2-4, sending four runners home to lead his team. Senior Hasbrouck followed behind him with four RBIs, going 2-3.

Walters would be the only Cougars to collect multi-hits, going 2-3.

Brayden Kastrow started on the mound for Heart River, but after allowing three hits and five walks that amounted to seven runs, Jordan Koppinger was brought on to find some stability. Unfortunately for the Cougars, Koppinger would allow five runs, earning three, and was relieved by Jordan Jung, who closed out the fourth and their final defensive inning.

Maddox Pierce led his team's defense from the hill, fanning nine batters and surrendering five hits and two runs.