BROOKINGS, S.D. — Renner Post 307 scored in the first five innings on Thursday night and moved to 3-0 at the South Dakota Class A American Legion baseball tournament, topping Watertown Post 17 10-0 in five innings at Bob Shelden Field.
As the last undefeated team in the bracket, the win guarantees Renner (30-12) a spot in Saturday’s championship series. The Royals will take on Harrisburg Gold at 7 p.m. Friday night in a game that is an elimination contest for Harrisburg.
Renner had a 4-0 lead through two innings before it added four more runs in the third inning to ice the game. Rylan Arbogast allowed six hits in a shutout effort over five innings for the Royals, striking out a pair.
Renner had 12 hits, including Kyle Konechne posting two hits, three runs scored and three RBIs. Charlie Hueners had two RBIs, Zachary Dunham and Jacob Sanderson each had two hits for Renner.
Nash Berg took the loss for Watertown, allowing four hits and four runs (three earned) in 1 2/3 innings, striking out two and walking three. Kaden Rylance had two of Watertown’s six hits. Watertown (46-24) will play in an elimination game at 4 p.m. Friday against host Brookings.
ADVERTIsem*nT
Brookings 3, Brandon Valley 0
BROOKINGS, S.D. — In a game that had five total hits, Brookings Post 74 cashed in early and eliminated Brandon Valley Post 131 3-0 in the Class A state Legion baseball tournament on Thursday afternoon.
The Bandits scored first in the second inning when Nolan Miles scored on an errant throw after a Tyson Antonen bunt single and two batters later, Sam Johnson had an RBI single. Owen Schneider tacked on another run with an RBI sacrifice fly in the fifth inning.
Zach Struck was strong on the mound for Brookings, logging six innings with three hits allowed and one strikeout. Schneider closed out the team shutout with a perfect seventh inning, striking out two for the save.
Max Peters and Bryton Stroh each had doubles for BV, which got runners to third base in four innings but could not cash in. Ryland Carroll took the loss with two hits and three runs allowed in six innings, while striking out five and walking five.
Brookings (26-21) will play in an elimination game at 4 p.m. on Friday against Watertown. Brandon Valley’s season ended at 21-21.
Harrisburg Gold 15, Rapid City Post 22 5 (5 inn.)
BROOKINGS, S.D. — Top-seeded Harrisburg Gold eliminated No. 2 Rapid City Post 22 on Thursday afternoon on the strength of 14 runs in the first three innings at Bob Shelden Field.
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Harrisburg scored four runs in the first inning, six in the second inning and four more in the third inning to avalanche the Hardhats early in the game. Harrisburg outhit Rapid City 13-4 in the game.
Teigan Munce had a 4-for-4 game with a three-run home run and five RBIs, while scoring three times. Eli Kokenge had a three-run home run in the first inning and Maddux Scherer and Palmer Boyd each had two hits and drove in two runs for the Tigers. Braxton Kusler had seven strikeouts in five innings with four hits and three earned runs allowed for the win for Harrisburg.
Jadon Moreno took the loss for Post 22, allowing five hits and eight runs in 1 1/3 innings. Hayden Holec had one hit and an RBI, while scoring twice. Post 22’s season ends at 54-18.
Harrisburg Gold (39-8-1) will play Friday in the final four at Bob Shelden Field, taking on undefeated Renner.
Renner 1, Brookings 0
BROOKINGS, S.D. — In a fierce pitcher’s duel played over two days, Renner Post 307 took down host Brookings 1-0 on Thursday morning in the South Dakota Class A American Legion state baseball tournament.
The game was halted Wednesday night due to severe weather in the middle of the second inning with neither team plating a run. When the teams resumed at 11 a.m. Thursday, Jackson Bjorkman took over on the mound for the Royals and was lights out, throwing five innings and allowing only two hits, while striking out four.
Renner took the lead in the bottom of the sixth inning, when Brogan Moffitt was struck by a pitch with the bases loaded, scoring the go-ahead run. Renner had only three hits in the game, including a double from Kyle Konechne.
ADVERTIsem*nT
Brookings’ Austin Clark threw six innings with three hits and one run allowed in a losing effort. Tate Helmbolt and Jack Merritt each had two hits for the Bandits’ offense.
By Marcus Traxler
Marcus Traxler is the assistant editor and sports editor for the Mitchell Republic. A past winner of the state's Outstanding Young Journalist award and the 2023 South Dakota Sportswriter of the Year, he's worked for the newspaper since 2014 and covers a wide variety of topics. A Minnesota native, Traxler can be reached at mtraxler@mitchellrepublic.com.
