BROOKINGS – The Bandits scored six runs in the first inning en route to a 6-5 American Legion win over Brandon Valley on Friday night at Bob Shelden Field.
This item is available in full to subscribers.
To continue reading, you will need to either log in to your subscriber account, or purchase a new subscription.
If you are a current print subscriber, you can set up a free website account and connect your subscription to it by clicking here.
If you are a digital subscriber with an active, online-only subscription then you already have an account here. Just reset your password if you've not yet logged in to your account on this new site.
Otherwise, click here to view your options for subscribing.
Please log in to continue |
BROOKINGS – The Bandits scored six runs in the first inning en route to a 6-5 American Legion win over Brandon Valley on Friday night at Bob Shelden Field.
Parker Rykhus earned the win after allowing four earned runs on five hits and five walks with one strikeout in 5 1/3 innings of work.
Jacob Schoon picked up save after giving up one unearned run on two hits and two walks with a K over the final 1 2/3 frames.
After Rykhus set Post 131 down in order in the top of the first, Brookings sent 12 batters to the dish in the bottom of the inning to plate six runs.
Tyler Kreutner led off with a base hit and advanced to second on a passed ball. Schoon singled to put runners on the corners before Rhett Zelinsky grounded out to the first baseman – moving Schoon to second.
Rykhus helped his cause with a double over the left fielder’s head to drive in both Kreutner and Schoon, and he eventually scored when he was forced in after three straight bases on balls.
With the bases still loaded, Brock Luze took one for the team, forcing in Ryan McMacken, who started the walk spree.
Preston Helmbolt fouled off a pair of 3-2 pitches before drawing another base on balls, forcing in Christian Mediger to make it 5-0.
Kreutner flew out to left field, which allowed Justin Devine to tag up and score from third for the Bandits’ sixth run of the frame.
Brandon Valley got one run back in the third when Trey Hubers drew a one-out walk with Joe Kobeln, who had drawn a base on balls and advanced on a steal, already on second. But Devine threw behind Kobeln on ball four to Kreutner at second base to pick off Kobeln, for the second out of the inning.
Hubers then stole second and scored on Dayne Peyton’s two-out single to get Post 131 on the scoreboard.
Brandon Valley batted around in the sixth – forcing Rykhus off the mound – on the way to a four-run frame.
Connor Knecht led off with a single; advanced to second on a wild pitch and moved to third on Zach Felderman’s in-field single. Rykhus induced Will Brown to ground out – shortstop to first – as Knecht scored and Felderman went to second. Isaac Buteyn singled to left to drive in Felderman to make it 6-3 and that brought Schoon on in relief of Rykhus.
Brad Skorczewski greeted Schoon with a base hit to left to push Buteyn to second.
Kobeln hit a grounder to McMacken at third, who had to go across to first for the out, which allowed both runners to move up a base.
A walk loaded the bases and then, an infield error allowed Buteyn and courtesy runner Jacob Johnson to score to pull Post 131 within 6-5 with runners on the corners with two outs.
Another walk loaded the bases before Schoon got out of the inning on a grounder to Kreutner at third, who took the short out to Luze at second base.
With one out in the top of the second, Will Brown singled to put the tying run on base for Brandon Valley.
But Devine cut him down on an attempted steal for the second out before Schoon struck out the final batter on a called third strike to preserve the win as the Bandits improved to 5-11 on the season.
Brookings plays host to the Aberdeen Smitty’s tonight at Bob Shelden. First pitch is slated for 5 p.m.
BROOKINGS 6, BRANDON VALLEY 5
Brandon Valley 001 004 0 – 5 7 0
Brookings 600 000 x – 6 4 1
Weston Struble, Zach Felderman (1) and Will Brown; Parker Rykhus, Jacob Schoon (6) and Justin Devine. W – Rykhus. L – Struble. Sv – Schoon. 2B: B, Rykhus.
Register photo: Brookings shortstop Tyler Kreutner lays the tag on Brandon Valley’s Joe Kobeln after catcher Justin Devine picked him off during the third inning of the Bandits’ 6-5 win over Post 131 at Bob Shelden Field on Friday night. Post 74 plays host to Aberdeen tonight in a 5 p.m. contest.
