Chiefs Finish Strong Despite State Tournament Loss

The Mandan Chiefs competed in the 2025 North Dakota Class AA State Legion Baseball Tournament in Williston, N.D. from July 28 to Aug. 1. The Chiefs entered the tournament as the eighth seed with an impressive number of wins from the season. Their season, which improved dramatically throughout July, has shown the growth in the team’s pitching and batting, as well as their offensive and defensive plays. The Chiefs may have taken two losses that squandered their chance of winning the state tournament, but their first three wins showed their improvements and dedication to the game.

The first game of the tournament saw the Chiefs against the Grand Forks Post 6 Royals. The Chiefs had played the Royals only a week ago, taking home both wins in a double header. The Chiefs brought this momentum into the tournament, defeating the Royals 3-0. 

The Chiefs played Fargo Post 2 in their second game of the state tournament. The team was victorious again, winning with a score of 4-2. The Chiefs jumped out to lead at the top of the third inning after Troy Gerhardt singled, scored one run, and Gage Miller doubled, scoring three runs. Ryan Bitz stood out as pitcher in this game, allowing only five hits and two runs over five and two-thirds innings.

The next game was against the Dickinson Roughriders. The Chiefs claimed another win in this game, with a final score of 3-1. Again, Gerhardt and Miller showed skill through the same plays as the former game; Gerhardt singled, followed by Gage Miller with a double. Ty Weiler also stood out with a sacrifice bunt that scored the Chiefs one run.

The Chiefs faced off against the Fargo Post 400 Stars. This game would decide who continued to the semifinal game. The scoring was tight in this one, and one can tell the Chiefs wanted this win. The Chiefs’ Mason Oster opened the scoring with a single, earning one run. Later, at the bottom of the tenth with the game tied at three, the Stars Caleb Christianson singled and scored the winning run for the Stars. The final score was 4-3 for the Stars.

The Chiefs had one more chance to make it to the semifinals. In their last game against the West Fargo Patriots, the Chiefs stood their ground. Although they stayed strong against the Patriots’ left-handed pitcher, the Chiefs could not get any runs in. The game ended with a score of 3-0 for the Patriots, wrapping up the state tournament for the Chiefs.

This season for the Chiefs has seen much growth and determination in the players. From what seemed like a rough season turned into a triumphant underdog story that brought back the Chiefs mid-season and saw them narrow their win-to-loss ratio dramatically. Ending the season with a 22-25 win-to-loss ratio that originally had a much wider gap can be seen as an achievement in itself. Despite the losses at the state tournament, it may be hard to argue that this season for the Chiefs has taken a turn for the better, and their comeback story may inspire the future Chiefs in seasons to come.