PARK RIVER, N.D. — Thompson baseball coach Nate Soulis was appreciative late Sunday night for the quick action of medical workers at the North Dakota Class B American Legion baseball tournament.
Thompson catcher Dex Avdem suffered a health scare in the sixth inning of the state semifinals against LaMoure when a blow to the chest caused a need for staff to use a defibrillator on Avdem.
Soulis wasn’t sure yet if Avdem was struck by baseball or bat during play. A defibrillator is a device that provides an electric shock to your heart to allow it to get out of potentially fatal abnormal rhythm.
“We’re still waiting to figure out why all this happened,” Soulis said. “Several people there on site for the game have a medical background. We’re very appreciative of them rushing to the scene and acting so swiftly.”
Avdem was taken to Park River’s hospital. Ryan Avdem, Dex’s dad, is an assistant coach for Thompson and was one of the first out to home plate.
Thompson’s entire team visited Avdem at the Park River hospital after the game. Avdem was transported to Fargo with plans to stay overnight.
“He was stable there and in good spirits,” Soulis said.
Avdem, who was an eighth-grader this spring on Thompson’s state championship high school baseball team, was 1-for-2 with an RBI against LaMoure before exiting the game.
The game restarted in the top of the sixth inning and Thompson held on for a 2-1 victory over LaMoure to clinch a spot in the state championship.
The championship of the tournament, which is double elimination, starts Monday afternoon — 25 minutes after the 1:30 p.m. loser-out game between LaMoure and Park River.
A second championship game will be played Tuesday if Thompson loses the first championship game.
Thompson advanced behind the pitching of Brayden Wolfgram, who went seven innings and gave up two hits. He struck out five and walked one.
Thompson scored both of its runs in the fourth inning when Avdem knocked one in with a single and Kaden Loiland did the same one batter earlier.
Thompson’s offense was led by Will Welke, who was 3-for-3 with a double.
