MITCHELL, SD (MITCHELLNOW)
What a glorious twelve days of baseball in was at Cadwell Park in the 92 annual South Dakota Amateur baseball tournaments ended yesterday. What a great Tournament it’s been, and we will start with the weekend results and the 2024 Class A and Class B state champions. The Class B tournament featured great pitching and yesterday would be no different as the 2024 state championship started out with an excellent pitching duel between Platte’s ace Grant Doom and Dell Rapids’ Riley Hoffman. Grant Doom and Riley Hoffman shutout the opposing team’s offense through the first four frames of the game.
The scoreless tie was broken in the top of the seventh, after a one-out triple by Jeff Harris (Parkston Mudcat pick-up player), Michael Buitenbos drove in Harris on a ground ball into right field. Then the Dell Rapids PBR came back the next half inning scoring three runs, including a Matt Gillogly RBI-single and a two-out, two-RBI single by Riley Calhoon to take a 3-1 lead.
With a two-run lead, Dell Rapids called on its young gun Brayden Pankonen, who closed out the last three state tournament games for PBR, including five shutout innings against Garretson in the semis, to slam the door one final time for the championship. Now for the first time since 2007, Dell Rapids PBR is Class B state amateur baseball champions.
The Class A South Dakota Amateur baseball tournaments ended with The Renner Monarchs coming out on top winning their 23rd championship knocking of defending champions SF Brewers by the final of 11 to 7 on 11 hits. The Renner Monarchs were led by Jaxon Rosencraz drove in four runs as the Renner Monarchs defeated the Sioux Falls Brewers in the State A state championship Sunday at Cadwell Park. Jaxon Rosencranz batted 4-for-5 with a grand slam driving in four runs, Adam Durfee drove in two runs on two hits, a double, and two walks, JT Mix tallied an RBI on two hits and a walk, Aiden Ladd had an RBI on a walk, while Maddux Baggs and Chaz Palmer each tallied hits in the win. The Monarchs Jed Schmidt earned the victory on the mound, allowing three runs on eight hits and a walk in six innings, striking out five.
For Sioux Falls, Jack Sutton took the loss allowing six runs on five hits and seven walks in 3.2 innings, striking out four. Sam Siegel tallied three hits, two doubles and an RBI, TJ Miller drove in a run on two hits, including a double, Sutton and Sam Baier each tallied two hits, while Charlie Dubanoski, James Borges, and Joe Kolbeck each tallied hits in the loss.
Saturdays action at the state tournament featured action continued at the 92 annual State B Tournament which included the 2nd semifinal game of the day featuring the Garretson Blue Jays vs the Del Rapids PBR and this game was all Del Rapids PBR winning by the final of 5 to 3. This game was about a dominating pitching performance by the PBR’S Trey Randl who tossed five strikeouts and with the help of the defense behind him was efficient in his seven innings of work throwing 72 strikes in 106 pitches only allowing three runs on 3 hits. Brayden Pankonen powered the PBR offense as he drove in a run, scored a run and had two hits including a double. Zach Puetz drove in a run on a double in the win.
The Platte Killer Tomatoes are now in the Class B state Tournament Championship game thanks to a stella pitching performance by the Platte Killer Tomatoes Michael Buitenbos who puts his team on his back and led the Platte Killer Tomatoes to their first ever championship game. The Platte Killer Tomatoes beat the Dimock Emery Raptors by the final of 4 to nothing. Michael Buitenbos allowed six hits, four walks and struck out four batters on 128 pitches in the complete-game performance. The Killer Tomatoes scored three runs in the top of the 7th inning as Sheldon Gant hit a sharp ground ball to Dimock-Emery shortstop Drew Kitchens, who sailed his throw past first baseman Phil Johnson for an error. Michael Buitenbos scored from second on the throw and that hyped up the Platte crowd as he crossed home plate. Michael Buitenbos continued to shutout Dimock-Emery, which left 12 runners stranded on base, in the final two innings. The Platte Killer Tomatoes finished with eight hits, including two hits and two RBI by Hunter Hewitt. Michael Buitenbos added two hits, while Seth Muth, Gant, Townsend and Hayden Kuiper added hits as well.
The Sioux Falls Brewers are now in the Class A championship game thanks to a big victory on Saturday after a 10 to 8 victory over the Sioux Falls Squirrels. The Brewers Sam Siegel drove in five runs as the Brewers advanced to the State A championship game Saturday. Siegel tallied five RBIs on two hits, a walk, a double, and a three-run homer, Riley Johnson drove in two runs on two hits and a walk, TJ Miller and Jack Sutton each tallied a hit and an RBI, while James Borges, Ian Strum, Sam Baier, and Drue Soukup each tallied hits in the win.
The Renner Monarchs advanced to the Class A tournament championship game with a 5 to 2 win on Friday vs the SF Squirrels. The Monarchs Dave Borchardt drove in two runs on two hits, Aiden Ladd had two RBIs on a single, Chaz Palmer tallied two hits, while Jaxon Rosencranz and Ryan Hander each tallied hits in the win.
Ryan Hander earned the victory on the mound, allowing one hit in five shutout innings, striking out eight. For Sioux Falls, Stuart Baruth allowed five runs on seven hits and two walks in eight innings, striking out four. Trevor Hurley tallied two hits, Connor Hurley drove in a run, while Jack Simonsen and Dylan Ades each tallied hits in the loss. Renner moves on to the Class A state championship game on Sunday at 12 p.m vs the Sioux Falls Brewers today starting at 12 pm.
The Mitchell boys’ varsity soccer team kicked off the season Friday night at Joe Quintal field in a defensive first half vs the visiting Harrisburg Tigers as the first half ended in a 1-1 tie. The Kernels boys would open up the offense scoring three 2nd half goals thanks to the hat trick by Karim Ical and the Kernels would go on to the Victory over the Harrisburg Tigers boys’ varsity soccer team winning by the final of 4 to 2. The Kernel boys in a quick turnaround at Tea High School lost Saturday to Tea Area by the final of 5 to nothing. The Mitchell boys’ varsity soccer team is now 1 and 1 in the early season.
The Mitchell girls’ varsity soccer team has now started the season 0 and 2 in two very tough matchups. Losing Friday night to last year’s state champions the visiting Harrisburg Tigers by the final of 2 to nothing. Then they hit the road on Saturday in a road loss vs Tea Area by the final of 4 to nothing. The Kernels girls are 0-2 to start the season.