Members of the Midwest Plains Region champion from Moorhead, Minnesota, pictured, in front, from left, are: Carson Heinsch, Conner Zimmerman, Jaimeson Dunlap, Riley Dickhaus, Lucas Hernandez, Oliver Carlson and Aadyn Hestbeck. In back are: assistant coach Jake Zehr, Jaden Evenstad, Jonas Schaumann, Brayden Kwamme, Jett Feeney, Logan Olson, Taye Reich, head coach August Grothmann and assistant coach Eric Palm. Submitted Photo

JAMESTOWN — The more the merrier is something Moorhead, Minnesota took seriously in Babe Ruth baseball this summer. Not only did the 14U team qualify for the World Series, but the 15-year-old Moorhead Black also captured the Midwest Plains Regional championship to play at Diethrick Park, beginning Saturday.

“It’s been on the uptick lately,” Moorhead assistant coach Shane Evenstad said about the quality of baseball coming out of the area. “The 14s were actually the first team from Moorhead to make the tournament, just a week or two in front of us. They’re out in Virginia right now. It does speak a bit to the quality of the program, or where we’re headed anyways, with both teams qualifying for this.”

The Moorhead team is comprised of mainly three different high schools and it won a couple of tournaments prior to the Babe Ruth tournaments getting underway. After winning the Minnesota state tournament, Moorhead made the short trip to Henning for the regionals where it came down to a pair of squads from Minnesota or North Dakota to come to Jamestown.

Moorhead played its rival Fergus Falls in the semifinals, coming out on top 4-2 in the pitcher’s duel and advanced to the finals against Park River, North Dakota. In the finals, Moorhead held on for the 6-5 victory to advance to Jamestown as the Midwest Plains champions.

“Our last loss that we had was to that team,” Evenstad said about Park River. “They beat us in the championship of another tournament we were in in North Dakota. We held on in the end. We went to a different pitcher in the end to close that one out. We’ve got a couple of those guys that aren’t afraid, the moment is not too big for them. So we’re thinking we can hopefully replicate that here this week.”

Some of the players with ice in their veins include all-tournament selections Jaimeson Dunlap, Taye Reich, Riley Dickhaus, Carson Heinsch, Brayden Kvamme and Conner Zimmerman.

“There is a general core that’s been together for the most part the last three years,” Evenstad added. “A lot of those names were on the all-tournament team in regionals, I’d expect to see a lot of those names playing pretty much every game here in the World Series. They’re scattered around the diamond with a couple catchers, a couple pitchers, a couple field players. (I) expect them to all do well in the field and at the dish.”

One of the strengths of Moorhead is the depth on the mound, which can be a huge difference maker in the World Series.

“This team has a knack for pitching,” Evenstad said about the team’s strengths. “Pitching depth is probably one of our better qualities. We have a few arms that can come in if we have a starter that’s not having the greatest. Versatility is really going to help us in the tournament. We’ve been putting up runs and we need that to continue. We’ve been putting up pretty good numbers so far this year.”

Moorhead is set on having a strong tournament, but, overall, is excited for the Babe Ruth World Series experience, especially being apart of the first set of Moorhead teams to qualify.

“It’s fantastic the first time these boys have seen anything,” Evenstad said about the World Series. “Again, with the program having the first and second team do this, really soaking it in. We have a lot of multi-sport kids on the team. They have been to big state tournaments in other sports, but nothing on this scale as far as a national tournament. I know they’re excited and jacked to be here.”

Name: Jaimeson Dunlap

Jersey No.: 2

Bats/throws: N/A

Position: N/A

Favorite professional team: None

Favorite professional athlete: None

Name: Jett Feeney

Jersey No.: 3

Bats/throws: L/R

Positions: Third base/pitcher

Favorite professional team: Seattle Seahawks

Favorite professional athlete: Patrick Mahomes

Name: Riley Dickhaus

Jersey No.: 4

Bats/throws: R/R

Positions: Pitcher/catcher/shortstop/second base

Favorite professional team: Atlanta Braves

Favorite professional athlete: Ronald Acuna Jr.

Name: Jonas Schaumann

Jersey No.: 5

Bats/throws: L/L

Positions: Outfield/pitcher

Favorite professional team: Minnesota Vikings

Favorite professional athlete: Kirk Cousins

Name: Conner Zimmerman

Jersey No.: 6

Bats/throws: R/R

Positions: Shortstop/pitcher

Favorite TV show: All American

Favorite hobbies: Hunting, fishing and golfing

Name: Taye Reich

Jersey No.: 7

Bats/throws: R/R

Position: Center field

Favorite professional team: Baltimore Ravens

Favorite professional athlete: Kirk Cousins and Ray Lewis

Name: Oliver Carlson

Jersey No.: 10

Bats/throws: R/R

Positions: First base/third base

Favorite professional team: Minnesota Twins

Favorite professional athlete: Luis Arraez

Name: Brayden Kvamme

Jersey No.: 12

Bats/throws: N/A

Position: N/A

Favorite professional team: None

Favorite professional athlete: None

Name: Jaden Evenstad

Jersey No.: 19

Bats/throws: R/R

Positions: Second base/pitcher

Favorite professional team: Minnesota Wild

Favorite professional athlete: Connor McDavid

Name: Carson Heinsch

Jersey No.: 21

Bats/throws: R/R

Positions: Catcher/pitcher/left field

Favorite professional team: Minnesota Twins and Vikings

Favorite professional athlete: Kirk Cousins

Name: Logan Olson

Jersey No.: 22

Bats/throws: R/R

Position: Third base

Favorite professional team: Minnesota Vikings

Favorite professional athlete: Justin Jefferson

Name: Lucas Hernandez

Jersey No.: 23

Bats/throws: R/R

Position: Outfield

Favorite professional team: Minnesota Vikings

Favorite music group: 21 Savage

Name: Aadyn Hestbeck

Jersey No.: 42

Bats/throws: R/R

Positions: Second base/shortstop

Favorite music: Country

Favorite professional athlete: Joe Kelly