‘Chutes advance at state

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PIERRE – The ‘Chutes are 3-1 in the Class A State Junior Legion Baseball Tournament, which began Friday at Hyde Stadium.

Brookings (30-11) is two victories away from a title.

Unbeaten Sioux Falls East (36-9) plays Aberdeen (36-19-1) today at noon.

Post 74 faces the winner 30 minutes following the conclusion of that game. If Aberdeen wins, East moves into the title game. If East wins, the ‘Chutes would have to beat the Sioux Falls squad twice.

Sunday

• Brookings 11, Rapid City Post 22 1 (5 inn.)

The ‘Chutes got off to a fast start, scoring seven times in the opening inning and moving ahead 10-1 after two innings.

Zach Struck doubled, singled and drove in four runs.

Owen Schneider (two hits) and Austin Clark (single) added two RBIs apiece.

Breck Hirrschoff and Carter Wright also drove in runs. Justin Cofell and Nathan Lease both singled and scored twice. Nolan Miles added a pair of runs.

Matt Nordmeyer gave up one run on four hits and three walks in a complete-game showing.

BROOKINGS 11, RAPID CITY POST 22 1 (5 inn.)

Brookings    730 10    11  7  2

R.C. Post 22 100 00      1  4  1

 Brookings 14, Sioux Falls West 7

The ‘Chutes took control with a five-spot in the sixth frame.

Both teams scored five runs in the fifth, leaving the tally at 9-7 in favor of Post 74.

Nolan Miles doubled, singled and drove in five runs.

Nathan Lease went 3-for-4 with a double, three RBIs and a pair of runs scored.

Parker Winghart (single) added two RBIs.

Austin Clark singled, walked and scored twice.

Owen Schneider walked three times and scored three runs.

Winghart earned the win on the mound, allowing four runs – two earned – on four hits with seven strikeouts and three walks in four-plus innings. Breck Hirrschoff worked the final three frames, surrendering three runs – two earned – on a pair of hits with two Ks and two BBs, to log the save.

BROOKINGS 14, SIOUX FALLS WEST 7

Brookings 004 055 0    14  7  2

S.F. West  020 050 0      7  6  2

Saturday

 Sioux Falls East 11, Brookings 5

Post 15 totaled 15 hits and used a six-run third frame to move ahead 7-0.

The ‘Chutes got a three-run double from Nathan Lease in the bottom of the third and Breck Hirrschoff tripled in a run in the fifth to pull within 7-4; however, East took control with a four-spot in the sixth.

Jack Smith was 3-for-5 with a double and two RBIs. The first of four pitchers, he worked three frames to pick up the victory.

Ryan Husman went 3-for-4 with a double and four RBIs. Ethan Bruns ended up 4-for-5 with an RBI. Sawyer Tolk drove in a pair.

Parker Winghart (double), Justin Cofell and Trenton Pederson added hits for Post 74.

Lease allowed six runs – four earned – on seven hits with a strikeout and a walk in 2 2/3 innings. Cofell gave up five runs on seven hits and a walk over the next three frames. Hirrschoff got the final four outs.

SIOUX FALLS EAST 11, BROOKINGS 5

S.F. East  106 004 0    11  15  2

Brookings 003 011 0    5    5  2

Friday

 Brookings 12, Rapid City Post 320 7

The ‘Chutes built an 11-0 advantage through three innings en route to the opening victory.

Zach Struck (double) and Nathan Lease both finished 2-for-4 with three RBIs.

Justin Cofell tripled, doubled and drove in a pair.

Nolan Miles was 2-for-3 with an RBI.

Parker Winghart (single) and Breck Hirrschoff added RBIs.

Owen Schneider scored three times.

Austin Clark pitched 3 1/3 scoreless innings to pick up the victory on the mound. He allowed just one hit and walked three. Clark also doubled and scored.

BROOKINGS 12, RAPID CITY POST 320 7

R.C. Post 320 000 052 0    7    8  1

Brookings      362 001 x    12  10  3