BROOKINGS — The Brookings Bombers Black 14U team opened the 2024 season with a pair of wins as they swept a doubleheader against Harrisburg at Bob Shelden Field on Wednesday night.

The Bombers will host Marshall Orange for a doubleheader at Bob Shelden Field beginning at 4:30 p.m. Friday.

Game 1: Brookings 11, Harrisburg 1 (4 Innings)

Harrisburg took an early lead on a double steal in the first inning but Jude Meendering was hit by a pitch to lead off the bottom of the first and stole second base to put himself in scoring position.

Benjamin Schulte walked in the following at-bat and Baker Hanson drove in both runners with a two-run double to put the Bombers in front. Noah Lease drove in a run on a fielder’s choice to make it 3-1 later in the inning and scored on a wild pitch before Jace Jaacks drove in another run on a single to make it 5-1.

Meendering singled again with one out in the bottom of the second inning before stealing his second base of the night. After Meendering advanced to third base on an error, Hanson drove him in with a single for his third RBI of the night and stole second base before scoring on Nolan Krogman’s single to put the Bombers up 7-1.

After a scoreless third inning, the Bombers landed the knockout blow with a rally in the bottom of the fourth inning. Andrew Heinze drew a one-out walk to begin the inning before advancing to second base on a passed ball and advancing to third base on a wild pitch. Schulte drove in Heinze with an RBI double to put Brookings up 9-1 before Hanson drew a walk.

A double steal allowed Schulte to score to make it 10-1 and Hanson advanced to third on an error. That allowed Hanson to score on Lease’s RBI single to end the game.

Hanson finished 2-for-2 with a double, a walk, two stolen bases, three runs scored and three RBI. Meendering finished 1-for-1 with a walk, three stolen bases and three runs scored. Schulte went 1-for-2 with a double, a walk, two stolen bases and two runs scored. Krogman finished 1-for-2 with a walk, three stolen bases and an RBI. Lease went 1-for-3 with a run scored and two RBI. Jaacks finished 1-for-2 with an RBI. Heinze and Diers each drew a walk and scored once.

Krogman earned the win for the Bombers, allowing one earned run on one hit and two walks with eight strikeouts.

Game 2: Brookings 16, Harrisburg 6

The Tigers took another early lead on an error in the top of the first inning and added another run on a bases-loaded walk to take a 2-0 lead.

Meendering led off the bottom of the first with a walk before stealing second and third base and scoring on an RBI single from Hanson to cut the lead to 2-1. Grant Horn evened things up after leading off the bottom of the second with a single and stealing second base and advancing to third on a wild pitch before scoring on a groundout by Meendering.

Harrisburg scored a pair of runs in the top of the third inning to take a 3-2 lead but Brookings took control of the game by scoring eight times in the bottom of the third.

Hanson led off the third with a walk and stole second base before Krogman walked. Krogman stole second base before both runners moved up on a wild pitch and Mason Diers drove Hanson and Krogman home with an RBI double that gave Brookings a 4-3 lead.

Diers advanced to third on a balk before Kooper Henderson walked to put runners on the corners and Henderson stole second base before Dixon Dauer drove in Diers to make it a 5-3 game.

Horn followed up with an RBI double to put the Bombers up 6-3. Eli Ellsworth drew a walk, Horn advanced to third on a wild pitch and Ellsworth stole second before Meendering walked to load the bases. Horn scored on an error during Schulte’s at-bat before Ellsworth scored on a wild pitch. Both runners moved up and Hanson drew a walk.

Schulte scored on a wild pitch and Diers drove in a run with a double to cap the scoring in the third.

Harrisburg closed the gap by scoring a pair of runs in the top of the fourth inning before Brookings scored five times in the bottom of the fourth to put the game away.

Dauer reached on an error and advanced to second base before Horn moved him to third base with a single. Horn scored on a throw by the catcher after Ellsworth struck out in the next at-bat and Dauer scored on a wild pitch. After Schulte walked, Schulte stole second base and advanced to third on an error and scored on an error during Hanson’s at-bat.

Krogman reached on an error and stole second base and Diers singled to drive Krogman in to end the game.

Diers went 3-for-3 with two doubles and four RBI in the win. Horn went 3-for-3 with a double, two stolen bases, three runs scored and an RBI. Hanson went 1-for-2 with two walks, two stolen bases, three runs scored and an RBI. Meendering walked twice, scored twice, stole two bases and drove in a run. Schulte walked once, stole a base and scored twice. Krogman walked once, stole two bases and scored twice. Henderson walked once, scored once and stole a base. Ellsworth walked once, scored once and stole a base. 

Lease started the game allowing two unearned runs on one hit and two walks with seven strikeouts over 2.1 innings. Diers allowed four runs (three earned) on five hits, two walks and two strikeouts over 1.2 innings.