SD Amateur Baseball Tournament 2018

86TH ANNUAL SOUTH DAKOTA AMATEUR

BASEBALL TOURNAMENT

Special supplement of the Daily Republic | August 2018

2

AMATEUR BASEBALL

August 2018

2018 South Dakota

Amateur Baseball Tournament

Ronken Field at Augustana University • Sioux Falls, S.D. • August 1-12

Cover and page design: Jen Phillips Section editor: Marcus Traxler Contributors: Daily Republic Sports Staff Photos: Matt Gade & Sports Staff

What’s inside

New look...................3 Nicknames...............4 Angels’ success......6 Class B pairings.....8 Team previews.......9

AMATEUR BASEBALL 3

August 2018

New look for amateur baseball tournament Augustana University hosts for first time

By Jeremy Karll The Daily Republic

S

IOUX FALLS -- The South Dakota amateur baseball tournament has been in Sioux Falls before. But it’s never before been held at Augustana University.

That’s created some excitement and questions ahead of how the 86th annual event will be put on and play out at Ronken Field from Aug. 1-12.

Mitchell had hosted the tournament for the last four years, but Sioux Falls has been a regular part of the hosting rotation for the last three decades.

Sioux Falls last hosted in 2013 at Sioux Falls Stadium, but scheduling with the Canaries and other events made it difficult.

“We move around to show the amateur baseball product to other people around the state, and Augustana, being in the largest city in South Dakota, we’d be able to show the baseball players to some new people,” said Dale Weber, the longtime president of the South Dakota Amateur Baseball Association.

One of the biggest changes to this year’s tournament is where alcohol is allowed. Due to the tournament being at Augustana, a dry campus, beer will

Ryan Deal/Republic Parkston’s Spencer Lucas catches a pickoff throw to first base as Alexandria’s Cole Wenande dives back to first base during a Sunshine League game earlier this season in Parkston. only be allowed inside the stadium and the beer garden connected to the stadium.

“We’ll have some tables, some big stools to stand around,” Huber said.

“A congregation space connected to the field, and we’ll have a couple of big-screen TVs in there that Midco is going to live stream the games.”

Therefore, instead of teams bringing their own beer, players and managers will be given a commemorative cup and be able to purchase tap beer for $1 on days they play and $2 every other day. Huber hopes it encourages teams to, “stay at (Ronken Field), watch other games and drink right there.”

The beer garden also creates more standing room for a stadium that now fits 1,000 people after it added 560 temporary seats for the tournament.

Augustana baseball coach Tim Huber, the main director of the tournament, thinks the bleachers

AUGUSTANA: Page 4

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AMATEUR BASEBALL AUGUSTANA From Page 3

being closer to the field will provide a more intimate setting and cooler playing experience compared to past state tournaments.

The field conditions are also different than years past.

“We like our park, and it’s probably a little different, not right or wrong, compared to Cadwell,” Huber said. “Probably a little more intimate, smaller dimensions, you know, a little more suitable for wood bats.”

However, arguably the biggest change for teams will be playing on an artificial turf field. This is the first amateur baseball state tournament hosted on an artificial surface, one of only three in South Dakota. (Yankton and Brandon have the others.)

“I think people think it’s drastically different because there aren’t any turf fields around, but it’s still pretty normal,” Huber said. “There’s not a ton of challenging differences. It may play a little faster than maybe infielders are used to.”

Some teams, such as Winner/Colome and Flandreau on July 13, have played there during the season to get a feel of the artificial turf field.

But for many teams, this presents an exciting new challenge.

“A lot of the players are looking forward to playing on the turf field,” Weber said. “There are a few teams that have played there and they really enjoyed the field. Most of them are ready to go back.”

Despite the buzz around the new setup, Huber doesn’t know if Augustana University will put in another bid to host in the future.

“Potentially, but it’s a lot of work,” Huber said.

“That’s probably why Mitchell decides not to have it every year, too. You need a break from it.”

It has already been announced that the state tournament will return to Cadwell Park next year, but the 2020 location hasn’t been decided yet. Weber also didn’t say whether the hosting sites will go back to a three-year rotation, with two years being in Mitchell and one in Sioux Falls.

“It’ll be a new experience to go to Augustana for the fans and the players,” Weber said. “And on the same token, we’re always looking forward to coming back to Cadwell Park next year, too.”

August 2018

South Dakota takes pride in unique nicknames in amateur baseball Killer Tomatoes, Firechiefs, Mudcats, Bankers, Outlaws among state’s nicknames

By Ryan Deal The Daily Republic

I

n the late 1980s, the Platte amateur baseball team ditched its green and yellow uniforms for bright red ones.

The players received new uniforms at practice and as the players were rummaging through their new gear, the Platte Killer Tomatoes were born.

“We are all kind of proud about these nice bright red tops and nice white pants and somebody said, ‘Good Lord, we look like tomatoes,’ ” former Platte player Kevin Kuiper said.

“And Sam Nachtigal -- the way I remember it -- coined the phrase, ‘We are not

just tomatoes, we are Killer Tomatoes,’ and it stuck like glue.”

Nachtigal took the name from “Attack of the Killer Tomatoes!” — a 1978 film that was equal parts musical, comedy and horror — about a group of scientists that band together to save the world from mutated killer tomatoes.

Nachtigal was watching Siskel & Ebert’s 10 worst movies of all-time list and not only did it make the cut, but it sparked one of South Dakota’s most unique nicknames.

“They had the 10 worst movies of all-time that they were critiquing and the ‘Attack of the Killer Tomatoes!’ was one of them and they played the opening song, ‘It’s the Attack of the Killer Tomatoes!’

” Nachtigal said. “It was kind of unique and then when our team uniforms changed to green to red, I just started calling us the Killer Tomatoes and then the name stuck.”

When Nachtigal and Kuiper played for Platte, they even ran onto the field with the theme song from the movie blaring out of the speakers at the ballpark: Attack of the killer tomatoes!

Attack of the killer tomatoes!

They’ll beat you, bash you, Squish you, mash you Chew you up for brunch And finish you off for dinner or lunch!

Platte, which didn’t have a team name prior to the Killer

NICKNAMES: Page 5

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AMATEUR BASEBALL 5

August 2018

NICKNAMES From Page 4

Tomatoes, embraced the new nickname. It designed an angry-looking tomato logo and Platte’s American Legion Memorial Field is nicknamed “The Tomato Patch.”

“It was just amazing how that caught on and took off,” Kuiper said. “We do get a lot of laughs, tongue and cheek comments, but we are pretty d--- proud to be Killer Tomatoes.”

The nickname and its origin embodies South Dakota amateur baseball, which is dotted with other unique nicknames across the state.

The state has two types of frogs: Horned Frogs and

Mad Frogs, fish (Mudcats and Slough Sharks), birds (both Bluejays and Bluebirds), horses (both Broncs and Broncos) and dinosaurs (Raptors).

Bankers, Outlaws, Merchants, Cormorants, Traders, Lakers, Flying Squirrels and Rats also represent amateur teams in South Dakota. Pony Hills League member Four Corners doesn’t have a nickname but its name comes from its location at the intersection of U.S. Highway 14 and South Dakota Highways 34 and 63.

Cornbelt League member Canova has one of the more distinct names in the state: the Gang.

“It just kind of caught on years ago,” Canova manager

Dave Gassman said. “We would be playing and everybody would say, ‘Come on Gang. Let’s go.’ We just decided we are the Canova Gang. Pretty simple.”

Gassman has been involved with the Canova baseball for 53 years -- either as a player or coach -- and they’ve always been the Gang.

“I can’t remember us not being called the Gang,” Gassman said.

Canova, a die-hard baseball town of around 100 people, has embraced the nickname and its red and yellow team colors. The Gang is not only a traditional amateur baseball power, but the other levels in town go by the name, with the same hats and colors.

“It brings togetherness here and unity,” Gassman said.

“We are the Gang all the way from the 6 year olds all the way up to the amateur team.

I think it just ties the whole program together nicely to make it a fun summer for everybody.”

In Milbank, the amateur team sports another unique nickname: the Firechiefs. The name dates back to the early 1950s when nobody would sponsor the local amateur team.

“They were struggling getting people to sponsor them,” Milbank coach Scott Hoeke said. “So the fire department basically just started raising the money and feeds and that sort of stuff

that sponsored to pay for amateur baseball.”

Some of the players were also on the volunteer fire department. After briefly being called the Milbank Royals after Royal Insurance sponsored the team, the Firechiefs came back in the early 1990s and remain in place today. The birthplace of American Legion baseball, Milbank has a strong baseball community and it also embraces the Firechiefs.

“It’s unique and it really adds to the mystique around South Dakota amateur baseball,” Hoeke said.

“Because I don’t think there’s many states in the U.S. that has the pride of amateur baseball like South Dakota does.”

Ryan Deal/ Republic A Platte Killer Tomatoes hat rests in the dugout at Cadwell Park during a game against Madison earlier this season.

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AMATEUR BASEBALL

August 2018

A model of consistency With three titles in five years, Angels look to stay atop Class B

T

here really is no secret to the Alexandria Angels’ success.

The Angels are built on dynamite pitching and balanced hitting, but above all else, it’s the dedication for amateur baseball that has sparked their recent run.

“You play for the love of the game,” Alexandria catcher/manager Chris Marek

said. “I think that’s really what has been the backbone leading to our success is just the brotherhood and the love for the game that everybody brings every night.”

With essentially the same group of players, the Angels have dominated Class B baseball the past six years. Entering the state tournament, Alexandria has a record of 144-14 since 2013 and has appeared in five straight state title games, with titles in 2013, 2016 and 2017.

“I would take just as much pride in the fact we have played in it for five straight years,” Marek said. “Because a singleelimination tournament with 32 teams, just getting there is a feat in of itself.”

After finishing as state runner-ups in 2015, the Angels ran the table in 2016 and won the title again in 2017 with a 27-1 mark. This season, Alexandria is 17-2 heading in the Class B state tournament,

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ANGELS: Page 7

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By Ryan Deal The Daily Republic

AMATEUR BASEBALL 7

August 2018

ANGELS From Page 6

Go Pheasants!

you set the tone and start hitting the ball, it becomes a fun game.”

Additionally, Pierce Smith (.321) and Reid Smith (.324, 13 RBIs) produce at the plate.

Billy Hamilton is a new addition this season and has been used all over the field. Previously with Plankinton, Hamilton is hitting .286 and has knocked in nine runs.

“He’s done a nice job for us kind of playing that utility position,” Marek said. “Coming to the ballpark every night, he doesn’t really know where he is going to be. Whether he is going to be in the outfield, infield or behind the plate catching. He’s just done a nice job being a utility player and filling that role for us.”

Up next, the Angels will head to Sioux Falls and it’s no secret what the goal is: a threepeat.

“When the regular season is over, it’s a whole new season,” Marek said. “Not to say that you don’t have something to play for in the regular season, but once playoffs hit, that’s kind of when the aspirations become the focus. So I just think the mindset and the mentality with everybody is playing with is a notch higher.”

You play for the love of the game.

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Matt Gade/Republic Alexandria’s Tyson Gau pitches during a game against Winner/Colome in Alexandria in May.

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which is Aug. 1-12 at Ronken Field in Sioux Falls.

Aside from Winner/ Colome upending the Angels twice, including for the District 5B title on July 27, the Angels are still singing the same tune.

“I don’t think the story is a whole lot different than what it has been in the past,” Marek said. “Obviously when you start winning, it becomes the environment that you know and so we’ve had such good success over the last five or six years.”

This season, Alexandria has again rode the arms of Tyson Gau (3.08 ERA, 74 strikeouts), Trever Vermeulen (0.67 ERA, 56 strikeouts) and Jordan Gau (3.24 ERA, 30 strikeouts).

“Once again, pitching has kind of been the staple,” Marek said. “It’s kind of held us together and has led the charge.”

Offensively, Tyson Gau (.329 batting average, seven home runs), Jordan Gau (.304, 17 RBIs), Cole Wenande (.430, six home runs, 29 RBIs) and Peyton Smith (.317, 21 RBIs) pace the offense.

“They set the tone at the top of the order and hitting is a contagious thing,” Marek said. “If

8

AMATEUR BASEBALL

August 2018

CLASS B PAIRINGS

*Chamberlain

Wed 8-1 5:30pm

*Designates the home team and third-base dugout.

Canova

Sun 8-5 5:30pm Tabor

Wed 8-1 7:30pm

*

*Colman

Thur 8-9 5:30pm Parkston

Thur 8-2 11:00am

*

*

*Vermillion

Sun 8-5 7:30pm

*

Larchwood

Thur 8-2 1:00pm *Winner/Colome

Sat 8-11 1:00pm *Humboldt/Hartford

Thu. Aug. 3 5:30p

*

Milbank

Mon 8-6 5:30pm Miller/Wessington

Thur 8-2 7:30pm *Northville

Thur 8-9 7:30pm Volga

Fri 8-3 11:00am *Akron

Mon 8-6 7:30pm Garretson

Fri 8-3 1:00pm

*

*

*Menno

Sun 8-12 2:00pm

STATE “B” CHAMPIONSHIP GAME

Clear Lake

Fri 8-3 5:30pm *Lennox Only One

Tues 8-7 5:30pm Corsica/Stickney

Fri 8-3 7:30pm

*

*

*Harrisburg

Fri 8-10 5:30pm Wynot

Sat 8-4 11:00am

*

*Madison

Tues 8-7 7:30p Lesterville

Sat 8-4 1:00pm *Plankinton

Sat 8-11 7:30pm *Crofton

Sat 8-4 5:30pm Alexandria

Wed 8-8 5:30pm Groton

Sat 8-4 7:30pm

*

*

*Clark

Fri 8-10 7:30pm *Canton

Sun 8-5 11:00am

*

Dimock/Emery

Wed 8-8 7:30pm Four Corners

Sun 8-5 1:00pm *Flandreau

*

*

August 2018

AMATEUR BASEBALL 9

A team-by-team look at the Class B field T

By Marcus Traxler The Daily Republic

hirty-two teams. Single elimination. Twelve days of baseball.

The fate of the South Dakota State Amateur Baseball Class B Tournament is in the hands of the teams taking the diamond at

Ronken Field in Sioux Falls. And per usual, there’s a few educated guesses that can be made about how the bracket will break out once the games begin.

But a quick peek at past year’s results shows that even the top teams are susceptible to upsets, making the single-elimination

format both thrilling and a bit cruel.

In all, there are 11 new teams in the field that missed out in 2017 making their way to the Augustana University, including one team that didn’t play at all a year ago. Here’s a short look at the tournament field, in the order of their first-round games:

CHAMBERLAIN MALLARDS For the first time in four years, the Mallards from Chamberlain will play in the Class B state tournament, winning in a nailbiting 9-8 contest against South Central on July 25.

Chamberlain finished 7-8 in the Pony Hills League and claimed the last of the four available spots in the state tournament.

In the clinching game, Ryan Randall and Ryan Schoenhard each had three hits, while Mike Schwartz had a pair of hits. Schwartz and Zach Zimprich each picked up wins on the mound in the district tournament, with Zimprich going the distance to beat South Central.

Chamberlain opens the Class B tournament with a 5:30 p.m. contest Wednesday against Canova.

CANOVA GANG After falling short of the state tournament a season ago, Canova is making a return to the Class B state amateur tournament. The Gang (16-5) defeated Humboldt/Hartford 14-4 on July 26 in the District 4B tournament to secure their spot.

Jared Miller has paced the Gang at the plate, hitting .487 with five home runs, 24 RBIs and 28 runs scored.

Derek Miller is hitting .394, with Garrett Gassman hitting .392 with 27 RBIs. The team averages 7.8 runs per game, with Justin Miller (.375) and Trey Krier (.362) also hitting better than .350.

Krier has led the team in innings, tossing 51 innings with 55 strikeouts and a 3.70 ERA with 10 walks allowed. Derek Miller threw 43 2/3 innings with 45 strikeouts and a 3.71 ERA. Ranked fifth in the final amateur poll of the year, Canova will start state play against Chamberlain at 5:30 p.m.

Wednesday.

TABOR BLUEBIRDS A trip to the state tournament has become an annual occurrence for the Tabor Bluebirds, who head to the Class B event as the runner-up from District 6B. Tabor was 10-6 in South

Ryan Deal/Republic Canova’s Tyler Genzlinger makes the turn on a potential double-play ball at second base as Dimock-Emery’s Jason Schmidt slides during an amateur baseball game in Emery in June.

Central League play and used a big rally to get past Wynot, Nebraska, to clinch a state spot in the District 6B semifinals.

The Bluebirds came back from a 7-1 hole to top the Expos 1110 in 10 innings on July 24.

The offensive leaders for Tabor include Chase Kortan, Austin White, Chris Sutera, Hunter Hallock, Jason Humpal and Cole Uecker. Colin Muth and Hallock, respectively, took the ball on the mound in the district semifinals and championship rounds.

Tabor took down Beresford 8-5 in the first round of the 2017 state tournament, before falling 6-0 to Harrisburg. Ranked No. 9 by the amateur baseball poll voters, the Bluebirds take on Colman in the first round of the state tournament, a 7:30 p.m. start on Wednesday.

COLMAN A’S The Colman A’s continued their hot run late in the season all the way to the District 4B championship. Colman lost 10 of its first 14 games but has since rallied to a 10-11 record, as winners of six of their last seven games.

Colman’s Deon Entringer was named the district tournament MVP following the A’s 7-5 win in the championship game over Flandreau on July 28.

It was a bit of a bounce back year for Colman, which was 10-4 in 2017 in the Cornbelt but

missed the state tournament.

This season, the squad was 6-10 in the Cornbelt but picked up wins over Humboldt/ Hartford (3-2) and Dell Rapids PBR (11-5) to reach the championship game.

Colman will battle Tabor in the first round of the state tournament at 7:30 p.m.

Wednesday. If both Canova and Colman win their firstround games, the two Cornbelt League teams could meet in the second round Sunday.

The Gang swept the A’s in two games this season.

PARKSTON MUDCATS A state tournament regular, the Parkston Mudcats return to the Class B field thanks to a 6-1 win over Platte in the District 5B playoffs on July 26.

Parkston (12-14-1) is powered

by Brady Nolz, who has thrown nearly half of the total innings for the Mudcats this season, In 101 2/3 innings, Nolz has logged 133 strikeouts, a 7-3 record and a 2.92 ERA. Dillon Stadlman and Jake Weber each have thrown 35-plus innings, with Weber striking out 25 opponents while allowing just four walks.

Nolz leads the team in hitting with a .364 average and 15 RBIs, leading a pack of eight players batting better than .300. James Boehmer is hitting

.345, while Spencer Lucas has a team-best 19 RBIs and is hitting .315. Jeff Harris leads the team with 24 runs scored and 31 base hits, batting .323, and Will Lutjen is hitting .343.

Parkston takes on Vermillion in the opening game on Thursday, the third straight year Parkston has played a State Line League team in the first round, after a 9-3 loss to Harrisburg in 2017. The Mudcats avenged that loss on June 1 this year, a 6-5 win at Ronken Field over the Woodies.

It’s the second time in three years the Mudcats and Grey Sox have matched up in the first round of the state tournament, with Parkston blanking Vermillion 5-0 in 2016.

VERMILLION GREY SOX The Grey Sox from Vermillion return to the Class B state tournament for the third straight year, looking to build off their 2017 progress.

Vermillion was 8-5 in State Line League play this season, which was good for the No. 4 seed in the District 7B playoffs. A 4-3 loss to Akron, Iowa, forced Vermillion to face elimination, but the Grey Sox responded with an 8-3 win over the Lennox Reds July 25 to reach the state tournament.

Vermillion’s 2017 state tournament included an 11-7 win over Clark, followed by a 21-8 loss to Winner/Colome in the second round. The Grey Sox could see the Winner/ Colome again in the second round, if both teams advance.

The Grey Sox open with Parkston at 11 a.m. Thursday in Sioux Falls. The second round could include intraleague contests, with possible Vermillion-Larchwood from the State Line League or Parkston-Winner/Colome from the Sunshine League.

LARCHWOOD (IOWA) DIAMONDS A year ago, Larchwood put together a strong run to the state championship game and the Diamonds have shown signs of being able to do it again in 2018.

The Diamonds started the

CAPSULES: Page 10

10

AMATEUR BASEBALL

August 2018

CAPSULES From Page 9

season 11-0 and finished the campaign at 16-6 with a 6-4 loss to Harrisburg in the District 7B championship.

Ace pitcher Patrick Sinnema has 42 strikeouts in 28 1/3 innings and a 1.91 ERA. Dylan Whalen has a 3.60 ERA in 20 innings, and as a staff, opponents are hitting .193 against the Diamonds’ pitching.

Cody Groskreutz, a former NAIA All-American honorable mention selection for Northwestern, is hitting .538 for the season with 24 RBIs. Matt Gade/Republic Micah Linn is hitting .417 with 18 RBIs and a team- Parkston third baseman Tyler Nolz fields a grounder during a game at best five home runs, while Alexandria in June.

Keaton Grevengoed, Kyle Van Voorst, Mitch Peschon and Taylor Morris all have at on May 24 in Alexandria. The University pitching coach least 17 RBIs. The Diamonds Connor Hopkins engineered season’s victories also include are hitting .368 as a team and both victories from the mound. a 7-4 win over Flandreau at average 9.2 runs per game.

Hopkins had 15 strikeouts in a Ronken Field on July 13.

The fourth-ranked Diamonds — no-hit effort against Alexandria The Pheasants open the who beat Plankinton, Freeman, on June 7, a 1-0 win in state tournament against Irene and Garretson to reach Winner.

He struck out 12 in the Larchwood, Iowa, at 1 p.m. the championship game last Pheasants’ District 5B title, a Thursday. year — fell 4-0 to Alexandria in 12-5 victory July 27. the title game.

Offensively, the No. 2-ranked HUMBOLDT/ Larchwood’s state tournament Pheasants (20-2) continue to run will begin at 1 p.m.

HARTFORD be powered with a talented Thursday against Winner/ GAMECOCKS offense, which includes Colome. sluggers Derek Graesser, Austin Richey, Austin Calhoon After two years on the outside WINNER/COLOME and Dillon Lambley, along with looking in on the state tournament, the Gamecocks PHEASANTS speedsters Kelly O’Bryan, of Humboldt/Hartford return to Reed Harter and Lakin the state tournament.

One team this season has Neugebauer. Tarell Bauld and defeated defending state Graesser have been key arms Jared Donahue came up with a huge pitching performance champion Alexandria, and as well for W/C. to help H/H get in on July 27, that’s Winner/Colome, which The Pheasants had two losses throwing a no-hitter against has done it twice. on the season, falling 3-2 to Dell Rapids PBR in the District Former Dordt pitcher and Dimock-Emery on June 24 4B tournament on the current Dakota Wesleyan and a 12-8 loss to the Angels

Gamecocks’ home field. The former Canova and Winner/ Colome pitcher struck out 19 PBR batters and issued eight walks in the 8-3 win. Rob Lind added a home run and Danny Flahie had two doubles.

The Gamecocks were 10-6 in the Cornbelt League during the season. H/H battles Milbank at 5:30 p.m. Thursday in Sioux Falls for their first-round game.

MILBANK FIRECHIEFS A state tournament regular, the Milbank Firechiefs will join the state tournament field in Sioux Falls once again.

Milbank (9-7) dropped a 3-2 decision to Clark for the District 1B championship but made the state tournament with a 5-0 victory over Clear Lake on July 21.

Firechiefs pitcher Dom Boerger submitted one of the best performances in state history on June 6, when he struck out 24 batters against the Castlewood Monarchs in a 4-2 complete-game victory. (The state record for a nine-inning game is 25.) Boerger, a lefthander, pitches collegiately for Dakota Wesleyan University.

For the season, Boerger has 119 strikeouts to 12 walks in 60 innings and a 2.10 ERA. Taylor Boerger has thrown 41 innings with 67 strikeouts of his own.

Lance Frogner is hitting .358 for Milbank with 13 RBIs, while Tristan Hall has a .425 average. Tony Hofman and Bryan Appl each have driven in 10 runs.

The Firechiefs take on Humboldt/Hartford at 5:30 p.m.

Thursday in the first round. A

CAPSULES: Page 11

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CAPSULES From Page 10

year ago, Milbank was ousted in the opening round in a 4-0 loss to Freeman.

MILLER/ WESSINGTON OUTLAWS Miller/Wessington returns to the Class B state bracket for a second straight season, qualifying with a 9-10 record as the District 3B runner-up.

The Outlaws had a memorable 17-inning victory over topMatt Gade/Republic seeded Four Corners on July 22 to lock up the state trip, Plankinton’s Kyle Bruinsma fires over to first for an out during a game winning 6-5. Plankinton took against Four Corners in May. down Miller/Wessington 3-1 in the district title game on July 26. hiatus, last playing in the 2016 NORTHVILLE Cody Cotton and Casey event. The Cormorants claimed Schlechter are the two primary MERCHANTS one of the four available spots pitchers for the Outlaws, out of the Eastern Dakota throwing 75 percent of the Northville clinched its fifth League. straight state tournament Volga (11-10) reached the team’s innings on the mound appearance, claiming one of this year. Cotton has 77 state tournament with a 2-1 the two available spots out of weekend at the District 1B strikeouts in 70 2/3 innings with the Northern Plains League. tournament July 20-22. That a 2.16 ERA, while Schlechter The Merchants earned a 5-4 included a 6-2 win over the has thrown 59 1/3 innings with win over Redfield for the state Castlewood Monarchs, a 4-1 46 strikeouts and 3.34 ERA. spot, and then followed that up loss to Clark and a 6-4 win Schlechter leads the team with with a 10-5 win over Groton for over Lake Norden to seal the 12 RBIs, while Jay Winter has the District 2B championship. berth.

14 runs scored. Brant Winter Northville fell 13-5 to Irene in the Zach Puetz paced Volga’s has a .341 average at the opening round of the 2017 state offense in the district round, tournament. The Merchants plate. picking up six hits. Cole Gross take on Miller/Wessington at Miller/Wessington takes drove in three runs and Jake 7:30 p.m. Thursday. on Northville at 7:30 p.m.

Arlt and Chase Ringheimer Thursday in the first round of each had home runs. Gross VOLGA the tournament. The Outlaws and Austin Chase each had were in the 2017 bracket, pitching victories.

CORMORANTS falling 4-3 to Lake Norden in The Cormorants take on Akron, Iowa, in the lead-off game the opening round.

Volga is back in the Class B tournament after a one-year Friday.

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Dustin Steckler led Garretson at the plate with a .379 batting average, with Brett Fischer right behind at .368. Nick Bonte has knocked in 18 runs and hit three home runs, hitting at .323 clip.

On the mound, Derek Fischer leads Garretson in innings pitched with 35, allowing a 2.31 ERA with 45 strikeouts.

CAPSULES: Page 12

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After two tough seasons, the Akron Rebels are back in the state tournament field. The Rebels made the Class B semifinals in 2015, but had a pair of sub-.500 State Line League seasons in 2016 and 2017 that kept the Rebels at bay.

This season, Akron boasted one of the league’s high-scoring offenses, scoring 8.07 runs per game in 14 league games, in which the Rebels were 8-6.

Akron had an impressive win over Larchwood on July 6 in a 13-6 decision, which was the Diamonds’ second loss of the year at that point. The Rebels also beat Garretson twice this season in league play.

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AMATEUR BASEBALL

August 2018 Tate Pope was 5-for-11 with six RBIs, a home run and five runs scored, while Matt Larson was 6-for-13 batting in three games, driving in a pair of runs.

Trevor Cassels had four RBIs and Cooper Gates scored four runs. Justin Larson had four runs scored and knocked in three runs.

On the mound, Matt Larson had a complete game victory with 16 strikeouts. Justin Larson and Brandon Longstreet were the other starters at the district tournament, with Longstreet earning the win.

Clear Lake will play Lennox Only One at 5:30 p.m. Friday in the opening round.

CAPSULES From Page 11

Patrick Whetham has been stifling opposing batters with a 0.30 ERA and 32 strikeouts in 29 2/3 innings. Steckler and Bonte each have thrown 23 1/3 innings and have combined to record 52 strikeouts. As a whole, opponents hit .163 against the Bluejays during the regular season.

Garretson was 8-5 in State Line games this season, a league which had three of the four state semifinalists last season.

The Bluejays won three games at state last year, topping Wynot, Lake Norden and Winner/Colome. Larchwood bested Garretson in the 2017 state semifinals 3-2.

Garretson battles Menno at 1 p.m. Friday in the first round.

LENNOX ONLY ONE After a two-year hiatus in which it didn’t have a team, Lennox Only One is back on the diamond and back in the state tournament. The team folded prior to the 2016 season but returned to the Cornbelt League this season.

Lennox won a pair of tightly contested games on backto-back days to get into the state tournament. On July 27, Lennox defeated Salem in an elimination game, 6-5, but only after Salem scored five runs in the ninth inning. The next day, in the District 4B last-chance game, Drew Sweeter picked up the complete-game victory in a 4-2 win over Dell Rapids PBR to get to Sioux Falls.

Lennox, which was 5-11 in the regular season in Cornbelt play, was one of the beneficiaries of some upsets in the District 4B tournament.

Dell Rapids PBR and Salem

MENNO MAD FROGS After falling short of qualifying for state in 2017, the Menno Matt Gade/Republic Mad Frogs sent 11 players to the tournament as pick- Winner/Colome’s Tarell Bauld delivers a pitch during a Sunshine up players. In 2018, the Mad League game at Alexandria in May. Frogs eliminated any doubt and qualified for the state tournament as the champions Pitchers Doug Hall and Tom from District 6B. CLEAR LAKE After a 12-4 run through league Sattler have helped to lead the SLOUGH SHARKS play, top-seeded Menno (15-8) Mad Frogs back to the state scored 47 runs in three games, Clear Lake will be making its first tournament. including 20 runs in an openingstate tournament appearance round win over Scotland. A Menno, which was sixth in the since 2014, thanks to a solid 10-6 victory over Tabor in the final amateur poll, will battle performance at the District 1B district championship July 28 tournament. The tournament No. 7 Garretson in the opening sealed the team’s second title included a 17-4 win over Lake in three seasons. round of the state tournament, Norden, a 5-0 loss to Milbank The team was paced by Macon a 1 p.m. tussle Friday at and a 9-4 win over Castlewood Oplinger, who had five home on July 22. runs in the three-game span.

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CAPSULES: Page 13

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August 2018

CAPSULES

this season.

Last year, Harrisburg made a run to the state semifinals before falling to Alexandria 1-0 in a memorable late-night game at Cadwell Park. Thirdranked Harrisburg opens with Corsica/Stickney at 7:30 p.m.

Friday.

From Page 12

defeated the second-seeded Dell Rapids Mudcats on backto-back nights to eliminate the Mudcats from state contention.

Lennox will play Clear Lake at 5:30 p.m. Friday.

WYNOT (NEB.) EXPOS

CORSICA/ STICKNEY HORNED FROGS

A win in the District 6B lastchance game made certain that Wynot, Nebraska, would return to the Class B state amateur baseball tournament again.

The Expos pounded Freeman 9-0 on July 28 to assure that all four non-South Dakota teams playing amateur baseball in the state made the season-ending 32-team event.

Jackson Sudbeck had a completegame, five-hitter, striking out six for the Expos.

Wynot was 11-5 in South Central League play, carrying the No. 2 seed into the district tournament. But losses to Tabor and Crofton forced Wynot to the last-chance game to earn a slot.

Wynot bowed out of the state tournament in the first round in 2017, falling 5-4 to Garretson at Cadwell Park. The Expos take on a fellow blue-and-red team -- Madison -- at 11 a.m.

Saturday.

For just the second time under the Horned Frogs banner, Corsica/Stickney is making a trip to the state tournament.

The Horned Frogs (10-10) last qualified in 2014.

Corsica/Stickney used the District 5B last-chance game against rival Platte to get into the tournament, winning Marcus Traxler/Republic the contest 6-4 on the Killer Tomatoes’ home field July 27. Menno’s Damen Robish, left, prepares to flip the ball to Doug Hall, The Horned Frogs are led by right, covering first base during the District 6B championship game Aaron Groeneweg, who is against Tabor in Lesterville. hitting .422 on the season with five home runs and 23 RBIs, Harrisburg at 7:30 p.m. Friday. dropping a 6-2 decision to the while throwing 54 1/3 innings Class A Sioux Falls Squirrels with 44 strikeouts and a 2.32 on June 22.

HARRISBURG ERA. Nathan Blom has pitched Statistically, Mark Abrahamson nearly 40 innings and has 26 WOODIES hit .375 for Harrisburg this strikeouts and Kris Menning season, driving in a team-best has 32 1/3 innings pitched with Harrisburg (16-4) return to 17 runs. Drew Andela hit .325, a 2.78 ERA. the state tournament again and Brody Kunzman had a Other leading offensive players this season after winning the .315 average with 14 RBIs. include Logan Risse (.313 / District 7B championship for Aaron LaBrie has led the way on 21 RBIs), Nathan Blom (.304) the first time. The Woodies the mound with a 4-0 mark in 34 and Luke Bamberg (.291 / 19 have been red hot for much 1/3 innings with 84 strikeouts RBIs, 21 runs scored). C/S has of the last two months. After and a 2.62 ERA. He had 21 shown a propensity to score starting 1-3 with losses to the strikeouts in a 12-2, sevenin bunches, playing in eight Vermillion Grey Sox, Parkston inning win over Vermillion on games this season in which and Larchwood, Harrisburg June 13. Like LaBrie, Dalton they’ve scored nine or more has won 15 of the following 16 Allen is also 4-0 on the season runs, including a 29-13 win at games. with a 0.58 ERA last season.

Dimock/Emery on June 14.

The other loss came in As a team, opponents are Corsica/Stickney will play Harrisburg previous outing hitting .169 against Harrisburg District 7B champion at Ronken Field this season,

MADISON BRONCOS Entering the district playoffs on a five-game losing streak, Madison (13-9) turned things around just in time to reach the Class B state tournament. The

CAPSULES: Page 14

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AMATEUR BASEBALL CAPSULES From Page 13

Broncos lost 3-2 in 10 innings to Flandreau, before outscoring their next two opponents (Lennox and Dell Rapids PBR) by a combined 24-0 to qualify for the big tournament.

Matt Burpee again leads Madison in hitting at .459 with 28 hits, three home runs and 18 RBIs. Jacob Giles is hitting .329, while Heith Williams is a .303 hitter for the Broncos.

Greg Biagi has driven in a team-best 26 runs and has three homers.

On the hill, Brock Selgestad has thrown 56 2/3 innings with an ERA of 1.75 for the season and 61 strikeouts. Hunter Jamison has thrown 53 innings with four wins and an ERA of 4.58.

Madison made a run to the quarterfinals in 2017, defeating Lesterville 3-0 in the opening round, followed by a 6-3 win over Madison, before eventually falling to Alexandria 12-2.

The Broncos again open with a South Central League opponent this year, meeting Wynot, Nebraska, at 11 a.m.

Saturday in their openinground game.

LESTERVILLE BRONCS Lesterville is back in the Class B tournament for the second straight year, reaching the state tournament via a 7-4 win over Freeman in the District 6B playoffs.

Lesterville was 8-8 in the regular season and the No. 5 seed heading into the district

tournament, but the Broncs’ win assured the top-five seeds all advanced to the state tournament.

The Broncs will be occupied with District 3B champion Plankinton at 1 p.m. Saturday, but if Madison and Lesterville both win their first-round games, they could meet on Aug. 7 in the second round.

Madison won a first-round duel with Lesterville in 2017 by a 3-0 margin.

PLANKINTON BANKERS In the state tournament for the sixth straight season, the Plankinton Bankers won the District 3B title for the second straight year. They topped Miller/Wessington 3-1 July 26 in Chamberlain for the district title, capping a five-game win streak to end the regular season.

Tyler Waddle leads the Bankers (14-6) in batting average with a .341 mark and 14 RBIs, while Trevor Salmonson is hitting .338 with 12 RBIs and 13 runs scored. Chris Hill leads the team in RBIs with 19 RBIs and 22 runs scored, while batting .271, while Ryan Urban is hitting .297.

Josh Engquist and Travis Gant have pitched the majority of Plankinton’s innings this season, with Engquist sporting an 8-1 record with 72 innings pitched, striking out 108 batters and walking 25 with a 1.63 ERA. Gant has tossed 64 1/3 innings with a 0.98 ERA and 85 strikeouts to 14 walks.

Plankinton was held in check during their 2017 state tournament opener, falling 6-2 to eventual state finalist

Larchwood. The Bankers will take on Lesterville at 1 p.m.

Saturday.

CROFTON (NEB.) BLUEJAYS Crofton had to battle to get back, but the Bluejays are once again in the Class B state tournament.

Crofton clinched its spot in the state tournament with a 2011 victory over fellow out-ofstate club Wynot, Nebraska, in the District 6B playoffs. The Bluejays saw their offense come alive in the district tournament, with a 12-1 elimination-game win over Scotland after a 3-2 openinground loss against Lesterville.

Crofton was 8-8 during South Central League play during the regular season.

The Bluejays reached the state quarterfinals in the 2017 tournament, earning wins over Salem and the Dell Rapids Mudcats before falling to Harrisburg 6-1. But Crofton’s state experience will be put to the test from the start in a 5:30 p.m. Saturday contest against Alexandria.

ALEXANDRIA ANGELS The two-time defending state champions, the Alexandria Angels enter another Class B tournament as the favorites once again, sporting a 17-2 record.

The No. 1-ranked Angels won the Sunshine League with a 13-1 mark, but were upended

by Winner/Colome 12-5 in the District 5B championship game on July 27 in Platte.

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The Pheasants provided Alexandria’s other loss on the year, a 1-0 loss in Winner on June 7.

And given the recent history between Alexandria and the Pheasants, it’s worth pointing out that the two teams met in the last Class B title game in Sioux Falls. Alexandria claimed the first of its three championships in the last five years in 2013, a 4-3 win over Winner/Colome at Sioux Falls Stadium.

The Angels’ offense remains high-powered, averaging 9.3 runs per game with an offense hitting at .317 rate and a .427 team on-base percentage.

On the other side of the ball, Alexandria has a team ERA of 2.82, with 175 strikeouts compared to 44 walks in 150 innings, and opponents are hitting .223 against the Angels’ staff.

There’s also some state history at stake for the Angels.

Alexandria has a chance to be the first Class B team to win three straight state champions since Dell Rapids PBR did it from 1996 to 1998. Another state title would be Alexandria’s fourth in six years, rivaled by PBR’s five titles in seven years between 1996 and 2002.

Alexandria will face Crofton, Nebraska, at 5:30 p.m.

Saturday.

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AMATEUR BASEBALL 15

August 2018

straight appearances prior.

Groton edged out the Redfield Pheasants to claim one of the Northern Plains League’s two state-qualifying slots. The team is led offensively by Tyler Oliver, Spencer Locke, Adam Herman, Evan Erickson, Carlos Camacho, Heath Giedt and Mitch Locke. Austin Fordham and Seth Erickson have paced the pitching staff for Groton.

Groton will take on Clark in its opening-round game, a 7:30 p.m. Saturday contest in Sioux Falls.

CLARK TRADERS Clark continued to dominate the District 1B field again in 2018, claiming the district title for the sixth straight season.

The Traders won the six-team tournament with a 4-1 win over Volga and a 3-2 win over Milbank on July 21 and 22.

Lane Hovde has been important for the Traders at the plate, hitting .619 in league contests this year with 12 runs scored.

Kyle Braun is hitting .375 with 11 RBIs, while Luke Whalen (.375), Jesse VanOverbecke (.333) and Bryce DesLauriers (.323) are also hitting above .300.

Zach Toben has thrown 31 innings for Clark, boasting a 1.74 ERA with 22 strikeouts, while Andrew Wegner had 23 innings and a 4.69 ERA in league contests.

Clark bowed out in the first round of the state tournament in 2017, with an 11-7 loss to Vermillion.

CANTON ACES For the second straight season, the Canton Aces found the right time of the year to get into state tournament form.

In 2017, Canton was 5-11 in State Line League play but managed to get into the state tournament.

The Aces took advantage from there, defeating Platte 3-0, before advancing to the second round and getting knocked out

by Alexandria.

Canton was just 3-11 in State Line League play this season, averaging just 2.7 runs per game in league action. After a loss sent Canton to the elimination round, the Aces responded with an 11-1 win over Alcester Zips on July 25.

The Aces will take on a Sunshine League foe for the third straight postseason game in the last two postseasons. This time around, Canton faces DimockEmery at 11 a.m. Sunday.

DIMOCK/EMERY RAPTORS The Raptors (15-11) qualified for the state tournament for the 12th straight year, once again rounding into form late in the season. The Raptors closed the regular season with wins in seven of their last eight games. An 18-12 win over Corsica/Stickney clinched the state berth in the District 5B tournament on July 26.

Through 22 games, Jared Schmidt was the team’s leading

hitter, batting .425 with 17 RBIs and 21 runs scored. Jason Schmidt had a team-best seven home runs with 31 runs scored and a .396 batting average. Phil Johnson (.355, five home runs, 21 RBIs) and Doug Sudbeck (.350) are also among the top offensive players.

Johnson remains the team’s ace, throwing 51 2/3 innings with 54 strikeouts through 22 games.

Jared Schmidt had an ERA of 2.36 in 34 1/3 innings. The team has also had the boost of adding Jed Schmidt, who plays his collegiate games at Ronken Field with Augustana.

The Raptors played at Ronken Field June 19, falling 5-3 to Class A powerhouse Sioux Falls Brewers.

Dimock/Emery, ranked 10th in the final Class B amateur poll, takes on Canton at 11 a.m. Sunday in the final day of opening-round play. The Raptors bowed out in the 2017 state opener to the Dell Rapids Mudcats 4-2.

FOUR CORNERS A stalwart from the Pony Hills League, Four Corners returns to the Class B state tournament for the fourth season in a row.

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Flandreau qualified for the Class B state tournament for the sixth consecutive season with a 9-0 win over Canova in the semifinals of the District 4B tournament on July 24.

The Cardinals finished second in the tournament after a 7-5 loss to Colman in the championship game. Flandreau went 10-6 in the Cornbelt League standings, tying for third place during the regular season.

Flandreau has picked up a key boost from Jared Campbell, a member of Augustana’s national championship winning team. He drove in all three runs for the Cardinals in their district win over Madison in 10 innings.

Bret Severtson threw eight shutout innings in the win over Canova.

In the 2017 tournament in Mitchell, Flandreau took on Alexandria in the first round and lost 8-1. This year, the Cardinals will open the state tournament against Four Corners at 1 p.m.

The teams are 243 miles apart, the furthest distance between any two teams playing each other in the first round.

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regular season in the Pony Hills but won all three matchups against eventual-district champion Plankinton.

Much like this year’s tournament, Four Corners played in the final opening-round game in 2017, defeating the Castlewood Monarchs 12-1 in seven innings, before falling 6-3 to Madison in the second round.

Four Corners will play in the final first-round game at 1 p.m.

Sunday against Flandreau.

GIFTS FOR EVERYONE!

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From Page 14

This year, the Traders will take on Groton in the Saturday nightcap at Ronken Field in the first round.

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August 2018