Emo Bulldogs qualify for fastball world series

The Emo Bulldogs finished with a 3-2 record at a NAFA qualifier fastball tournament in Fargo, N.D. last weekend and have now qualified for the world series there Aug. 22-27.
The Bulldogs were one of five teams to qualify for a spot out of the 16 that made the trip to Fargo from Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Winnipeg.
“We knew we had a pretty good shot with [pitchers] Warren Voth and [Brooks Swanson],” said Bulldog shortstop Brent Tookenay. “We had a lot of guys play well and we hit the ball well.
“We know we can compete at this level–hitting was not a problem,” he stressed, adding he was impressed with several players on the weekend.
Still, Emo got off to a slow start Saturday morning in a 2-0 loss to the Fargo Outlaws. Swanson allowed just three hits but Emo could manage only one.
“We knew once we lost that first game that we would be in the rat race,” said Tookenay.
But Emo’s bats caught fire after that, pounding out four home runs in a 7-2 trouncing over AmericInn in their next game.
Voth led the way with a pair of dingers, including a leadoff homer in the second inning. Dave Taggart later added a solo shot in the third for a 2-0 lead.
AmericInn sliced into that lead with a solo homer in the fourth but Voth quickly replied with his second blast of the game in the bottom of the inning.
Tookenay iced the victory with a two-run shot in the fifth.
Voth went the distance on the mound, scattering seven hits while allowing just two runs.
Then Emo made it two-straight later Saturday with a 7-1 rout over the River City Brewers (Winnipeg) in a 12-hit attack.
The Bulldogs jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first, help by a two-run shot by Tookenay, then Swanson added a solo shot in the third.
Emo put the game out of reach with three more in the third.
On Sunday, the Bulldogs downed Coors Light (Fargo) 7-4, getting some clutch hitting to pull out the win. The Bulldogs were trailing 4-3 in the fifth when they scored one to tie the game, then took the lead for good with another in the sixth.
They added two more in the seventh as Voth picked up his second victory of the tournament.
Voth then got the start in the next game in a rematch against the Fargo Outlaws but once again Emo fell just short, losing 7-6 after giving up a run in the bottom of the seventh.
Emo had trailed 3-0 until the fourth when Dennis Mounk belted a two-run homer. Shane Bliss tied the game with a solo shot in the fifth, then the Bulldogs took the lead with a run in the sixth.
After Fargo scored three in the bottom of the inning to take a 6-4 lead, Emo tied the game once again with a pair in the top of the seventh only to surrender the game-winning run in the bottom of the frame.