ABERDEEN – The ’Chutes grabbed the early lead but couldn’t hold on as Renner rallied to an 8-3 win in the first round of the Region 1A American Junior Legion Tournament at Fossum Field.
Brookings faced Aberdeen at 10 a.m. this morning in a loser-out game.
The Smitty’s lost 8-5 to Mitchell, who went on to defeat top-seeded Watertown, 12-2, in the late game.
Renner and Mitchell square off at 1 p.m. If the ’Chutes beat Aberdeen, they would take on Watertown at 4 p.m. in another loser-out game.
• Renner 8, Brookings 3
After the Kings scored a run in the bottom of the first, Brookings plated three in the top of the second on the strength of a base hit, a hit batter and four walks.
Parker Rykhus led off the frame with a single to right before Christian Mediger was hit by a pitch with one out. Three straight walks to Theo Burns, Rhett Zelinsky and Caden McKeown plated Ryhkus and Mediger, and then, Parker Beers drew another walk with two outs that forced in Burns as Brookings led 3-1.
But Renner responded with three runs in both the third and fifth innings before adding an insurance run in the sixth to move on in the championship bracket.
Tanner Shepardson suffered the loss after giving up seven runs – six earned – on seven hits and four walks with two strikeouts in five innings.
Daniel Messerli pitched the sixth and allowed an unearned run on one hit and a walk with one strikeout.
RENNER 8, BROOKINGS 3
Brookings 030 000 0 – 3 3 4
Renner 103 031 x – 8 8 0
Tanner Shepardson, Daniel Messerli (6) and Christian Mediger; Kobe Lien, Mason Runia (7) and Jacob Just. W – Lien. L – Shepardson. 2B: R, Kobe Lien, Jacob Just.
