Sue Sitter/PCT The Rugby Panthers, runners-up in the Region 5 Baseball Playoffs, pose for a photo. From back left are Assistant Coach Jeremy Johnston, Jacob Ripplinger, Dylan Bartsch, Macen Heisler, Austin Schneibel, Brody Schneibel and Coach Travis Risovi. From left in front are Landon Zietz, Tatum Risovi, Jaden Wald, Clifden Brossart, Gaven Bartsch, Hudson Hager, Tukker Volk, Nash Wollenzien, Alex Berndt and Logan Harner.

The Rugby Panthers ended their season with a 6-3 loss to the North Star Bearcats at the Region 5 Baseball tournament held in Cando Wednesday, May 24.

The Panthers had climbed back from an early tournament loss to Bottineau May 22, winning three more games, including a rematch against Bottineau’s Braves.

Ready for the championship round, Rugby players hoped to take a regional title away from the Bearcats, who held the top spot for several years.

As the number two seed and consolation round winner, Rugby players donned their away game uniforms for the championship contest. The Panthers faced a challenge against the North Star Bearcats, who stood undefeated in the tourney: If Rugby won, it would need to win a second game before claiming the region title.

The Panthers proved themselves up to that task in the first inning, when catcher Erik Foster batted in two runners for a 2-0 lead.

Pitcher Jacob Ripplinger and the Rugby defense buckled down, retiring three batters in quick succession.

North Star pitcher Dane Hagler and the Bearcats kept the Panthers down as well.

Rugby’s lead lasted until an error put Bearcats batter Brody Svir on base, setting the stage for an RBI double from Garrett Westlind.

The Panthers put a stop to any more damage and held onto their 2-1 lead before base hits by Westlind and Dane Hagler put runners on first and third. The tying run crossed home plate on a throwing error.

The Panthers struggled to break the 2-2 tie in the sixth inning. Hagler struck two out before a short grounder hit by Rugby’s Logan Harner made for an easy out for the Bearcats’ defense.

Base hits followed for North Star in the sixth inning, hit by Jack Ahlberg and Parker Simon, setting up an RBI single by Svir. Westlind batted in two more.

With the game slipping away, the Panthers began the last inning of the game with a 6-2 deficit.

A base hit by Ripplinger gave Rugby hope, then a dropped pop fly hit by Schneibel breathed more life into Rugby’s chance for a comeback. With Ripplinger at third base, Foster batted in a third run for Rugby with a grounder up the first base line.

It was the Bearcats’ turn to buckle down. Hagler struck out two more Panthers, and North Star’s dugout emptied to celebrate a 6-3 Bearcats win.

Looking to the future

The Panthers gathered in the outfield for a talk from Coaches Travis Risovi and Jeremy Johnston.

Risovi said he would miss senior players Harner, Foster, Ripplnger, Brody Schneibel, Dylan Bartsch and Macen Heisler.

“They’re just great kids and they love playing baseball, and they’re talented at it,” Risovi, who had coached them since their sophomore year at Rugby High said. “We battled today. We played a nice game, actually. We didn’t kill ourselves, and they just happened to get some key hits in the sixth inning and we gave ourselves a chance, but it just didn’t go our way.”

Risovi referred to the bruising the Panthers took from Bottineau’s Braves in the semifinals, where Heisler, Harner and Ripplinger suffered injuries. All played in the championship game.

“I told these guys to keep their heads up,” Risovi added. “These guys are done with baseball,” he said of the senior class.

“Maybe they’ll play some baseball or old man softball in the future, but I told them don’t let this one game taint their ideas of how much they love baseball, because this is a group that truly loves to play the game,” he said. “I don’t want them to lose that.”

One player, Brody Schneibel, has plans to play baseball next spring at Minot State University. He also plans to play football for the Beavers.

“We’re going to play Legion this summer with these guys, then head up to Minot State,” Schneibel said.

“I’m going to be working on my pitches and the location and just get better over the summer,” he added. “I’m looking forward to getting to know the guys at MSU and have fun while playing, and keep playing baseball.”

Harner said he planned to set his sights on beginning a career as an electrician, however, he might consider playing with the American Legion team if time allowed and the team played local games.

“I think I’ll always remember the Babe Ruth State Tournament where we went,” he said. “We were a successful team. We always went to the championship round, but never went to state in high school.”

Foster said he would also play baseball with the American Legion League this summer. “I’m going to play basketball in college,” he said. “I’m going to Concordia College.”

He said he had lots of positive memories from his years with Rugby High School baseball. “No matter what was going on in the game, we’d always have fun playing,” he said.

Risovi said he looked forward to working with next year’s groups of players.

“Next year’s senior class will be small,” he said. “We have Austin Schneibel and Hudson Hjelden.”

“Then, I have a really good group of sophomores. That’s another big group with Tatum (Risovi) and Tukker (Volk), Jaden (Wald) and John (Lashman), Alex Berndt and Landon Zietz. Just a lot of good players there.”

“We have a small ninth grade class. But we have 13 eighth graders. They played pretty much every JV game and competed with JV teams and had a lot of success,” he added. “That’s the next group after those sophomores that really will have some excellent baseball players.”

“So,” he said, “I’m going to stick around for a long time.”