SIOUX FALLS – Trey Krier and the Gang proved to be too much for Flandreau in Sunday’s South Dakota Class B Amateur Baseball championship game at Ronken Field.

Even though the Cardinals got on the scoreboard first with a run in the bottom of the first inning, Canova rallied with two in the fifth, three in the sixth and then put the game away with five in the eighth for the 10-2 win.

Leadoff hitter Riley Johnson reached on an error but was forced at second on Jared Campbell’s grounder to short. Campbell moved up on a wild pitch before scoring on Mitch Foster’s double down the left field line for the early lead.

Foster advanced to third on Nate Henry’s single to center, but was thrown out at the plate when trying to tag and score on Keith Cutler’s fly out to right fielder Trevor Fruedenthal.

The Gang finally touched Flandreau starter Bret Severtson in the top of the fifth as Gavin Gassman took one for the team with one out. Gassman moved to second on Tim Gassman’s groundout to Nate Henry at third base, and then scored on Justin Miller’s single to left. Miller went to second on Beau Severtson’s throw to the plate.

Freudenthal’s single to center plated Miller as Canova took a 2-1 lead through 4 1/2 innings.

The Gang added to their lead with three runs in the sixth as Derek Miller and Jason Miller sandwiched walks around Mike Newman’s base hit to load the bases. Gavin Gassman was hit with a pitch to force in a run before Tim Gassman hit a sacrifice fly to right that plated Newman.

Canova’s final run of the frame came after Justin Miller grounded out to Severtson, but Jason Miller scored on the play to make it 5-1.

The Cardinals got one back in the bottom of the seventh when Patterson hit a one-out double and then scored on Bret Severtson’s single to left.

The Gang sent nine batters to the dish in the eighth to score five runs as Newman and Jason Miller each singled before Flandreau went to third on Gavin Gassman’s sac bunt attempt to get the first out of the frame. Tim Gassman singled to load the bases and then, Justin Miller drove in the first run of the inning with another base hit to center.

The Cardinals went home on a ground ball for the second out of the inning, but Garrett Gassman went deep on the first pitch of his at-bat for a grand slam that accounted for the final score, 10-2.

Krier went the distance on the mound for the win as he gave up two runs – one earned – on 11 hits and a walk with three strikeouts.

Severtson was saddled with the loss after allowing 10 earned runs on 10 hits and five walks with two strikeouts.

CANOVA 10, FLANDREAU 2

Canova     000 023 050  –  10  10  2

Flandreau 100 000 100  –    2  11  0

Trey Krier and Garrett Gassman; Bret Severtsona and Tanner Harris. W – Krier. L – Severtson. 2B: F, Jacob Patterson, Beau Severtson, Mitch Foster. HR: C, Garrett Gassman.

Saturday’s Semifinal

• Flandreau 7, Harrisburg 2

The Woodies tallied the first run in the top of the second after Justin White singled and then scored on Anthony Lanier’s double to right-center field.

But Flandreau took advantage of a throwing error in the third to tie the game.

Bret Severtson doubled with one out, and then tried going to third when Lanier fielded Beau Severtson’s ground ball and went to first for the second out of the inning. The throw from first to third went high, which allowed Bret Severtson to trot in with the tying run.

It was more of the same for the Harrisburg defense in the fourth as the Cardinals put the ball in play and scored on mishap after mishap.

Foster led off with a double, advanced to third on Henry’s single to the right side of the infield, and then scored when the second baseman’s throw to first got away.

Keith Cutler followed with another base hit before Tanner Harris reached first when his sacrifice bunt attempt loaded the bases after a throwing error.

Patterson took one for the team to get an RBI the hard way, and then Cutler scored on Bret Severtson’s sac fly to center to make it 4-1.

Riley Johnson’s grounder through the right side of the infield turned into a double as Harris scored from second and Patterson advanced to third, where an errant throw went past the baseman, allowing Patterson to score as Johnson advanced to third.

Another Woodie error on Jared Campbell’s grounder to short allowed Johnson to scamper home for a 7-1 edge through four innings.

Harrisburg scored its final run in the sixth after Kyle Rozeboom tripled with one out and then scored on Drew Andela’s two-out, infield single.

Zach Weinandt picked up the complete-game win as he scattered 11 hits to go along with six strikeouts.

Dalton Allen got tagged with the loss after giving up seven runs – three earned – on seven hits and a walk with 13 strikeouts in eight innings of work.

FLANDREAU 7, HARRISBURG 2

Harrisburg   010 001 000  –  2  11  6

Flandreau    001 600 00x  –  7    7  1

Dalton Allen and Drew Andela; Zach Weinandt and Tanner Harris. W – Weinandt. L – Allen. 2B: H, Anthony Lanier; F, Riley Johnson, Bret Severtson, Mitch Foster. 3B: H, Kyle Rozeboom.

Register photos:

Above, Flandreau catcher Tanner Harris dives to tag Canova’s Gavin Gassman during the fifth inning of the Cardinals’ 10-2 loss to Canova in Sunday’s championship game of the Class B Amateur State Tournament at Ronken Field. Gassman was called safe on the play to tie the game at 1-1.

Below, first baseman Keith Cutler lays the tag on the Gang’s Garrett Gassman for the first out of the seventh inning.