Bon Homme beats West Central, 7-5, for Class B championship

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SIOUX FALLS – Bon Homme had two big innings and then held on to beat West Central, 7-5, to win the Class B state baseball championship on Tuesday at the Birdcage.

The Cavaliers advanced to the title game with a 7-3 defeat of Redfield Area as West Central shut out Lennox, 7-0, in the other semifinal.

CHAMPIONSHIP

• Bon Homme 7, West Central 5

A pair of one-out walks in the top of the third inning got the Cavaliers started before back-to-back errors – one in the infield and another in the outfield – not only extended the at-bat, it allowed three runs to score for Bon Homme. Bryce Scieszinski’s RBI-double plated Joey Slama for a 4-0 lead through 2 1/2 innings of play.

A one-out error in the fifth allowed Slama to reach base before Christian Uecker hit an RBI-double to left to plate Slama for a 5-0 edge.

Scieszinski’s single put runners on the corner, and then, an outfield error allowed Uecker to score and Scieszinski to move up to second. An infield error gave Scieszinski the opportunity to score as Bon Homme pushed its lead to seven runs heading into the bottom of the fifth.

The Trojans finally got on the scoreboard in their half of the fifth after taking advantage of a one-out walk and three base hits to plate two runs.

In the sixth, Brandon McKnight ignited the West Central offense with a one-out double before an infield error put runners on the corners. Broc Haldeman’s sacrifice fly scored McKnight and then the Cavaliers booted another ground ball to keep the inning alive. Devon Garry’s RBI-single to left plated Sean Husman to make it 7-4 through six complete.

A leadoff walk to open the bottom of the seventh was followed by an RBI-double by Clay Habben to pull the Trojans within 7-5 and although West Central eventually loaded the bases, relief pitcher Trent Herrboldt got out of the jam as he struck out two and induced an infield fly.

Scieszinski earned the win after giving up four runs – one earned – on six hits and four walks with four strikeouts in 5 2/3 frames. Josh Schmidt went 1/3 of an inning in relief, allowing one earned run on a hit and a walk while Zach Cuka faces two batters in the seventh and gave up a hit without getting an out.

Herrboldt picked up the save despite surrendering one hit and hitting one batter while striking out two – including the final batter with the bases loaded.

Haldeman suffered the loss after allowing seven runs – three earned – on six hits and two walks with five strikeouts.

BON HOMME 7, WEST CENTRAL 5

Bon Homme 004 030 0    7    5  2

West Central 000 022 1    5  10  6

Bryce Scieszinski, Josh Schmidt (6), Zach Cuka (7), Trent Herbolt (7) and Joey Slama; Broc Haldeman and Luke Sebert. W – Scieszinski. L – Haldeman. Sv – Herrboldt. 2B: BH, Christian Uecker, Bryce Scieszinski; WC, Brandon McKnight, Clay Habben.

SEMIFINALS

• Bon Homme 7, Redfield Area 3

The Cavaliers scored five runs over the first two innings and then added single runs in the fourth and fifth to advance past Redfield Area.

A one-out walk to Slama, followed by a Scieszinski RBI-double and Beau Rothschadl’s RBI-single made it 2-0 after an inning.

A leadoff base hit in the second, followed by a walk, set the table for Tanner Van Driel’s RBI groundout and then back-to-back RBI singles by Slama and Uekcer for the 5-0 lead through two.

Bennett Osborn reached on a dropped third strike in the third before Christian DeYoung drew a walk to set the table for Barrett Wren’s two-RBI double as Redfield Area closed within 5-2.

But Bon Homme manufactured a run in both the fourth and fifth as Slama earned another RBI by putting the ball in play with a groundout in the fourth before a double steal in the fifth produced the seventh Cavalier run.

The Muskrats got one back in the sixth when Drew Masat came through with an RBI single, but it wasn’t enough as Bon Homme advanced.

Mace Merkwan earned the win on the mound after giving up three runs – two earned – on four hits with five walks and nine strikeouts over 5 2/3 innings. Van Driel tossed the final 1 1/3 – allowing one hit while walking one and striking out three.

Leyton Rohlfs suffered the loss after giving up seven runs – six earned – on eight hits and three walks with four strikeouts.

BON HOMME 7, REDFIELD AREA 3

Redfield Area 002 001 0    3  5  0

Bon Homme 230 110 x    7  8  1

Leyton Rohlfs and Kyle Stahl; Mace Merkwan, Tanner Van Driel (6) and Joey Slama. W – Merkwan. L – Rohlfs. 2B: RA, Barrett Wren; BH, Bryce Scieszinski.

• West Central 7, Lennox 0

The Trojans broke open a scoreless tie with four runs in the third on a walk and four singles to take control.

A leadoff single by Kadyn Nolz to open the fifth, followed by a wild pitch and an RBI-single by Copper Maras pushed West Central’s advantage to 5-0.

In the sixth, Haldeman singled with one out and then scored on Devon Garry’s two-out triple to make it 6-0. Nolz followed up with an RBI-single to plate Garry for the final margin as the Trojans pounded out 10 hits in the win.

Miles Mutziger allowed just two Oriole hits as he walked two and struck out two to earn the win on the mound.

JD Kirchner suffered the loss after giving up four earned runs on six hits and two walks with four strikeouts in 2 2/3 frames. Holden Wagner gave up two runs – one earned – on three hits with one strikeout in 2 2/3 innings of relief. Quincy Ihnen got the final two outs but gave up an unearned run on a hit.

WEST CENTRAL 7, LENNOX 0

Lennox 000 000 0    0    2  3

West Central 004 012 x    7  10  0

JD Kirchner, Holden Wagner (3), Quincy Ihnen (6) and Camden Wulf; Miles Mutziger and Luke Sebert. W – Mutziger. L – Kirchner. 3B: WC, Devon Garry.

Register photo: Bon Homme shortstop Tanner Van Driel lays the tag on Redfield Area’s Bennett Osborn on a steal attempt during the fifth inning of the Cavaliers’ 7-3 semifinal win over the Muskrats on Tuesday at the Class B State Baseball Championships at Sioiux Falls Stadium.