Teener Bees fall short in fight for third place

BRANDON -- The Pierre Post 8 Teener Bees headed into the third-place game Sunday with two wins and one loss in the South Dakota VFW Varsity AA Minors state tournament. Unfortunately, their great year ended with a hard-fought loss 5-2 against Yankton.

The Bees, coached by Sam Koenecke and Michael Gardner, had split two games Saturday, defeating Yankton 13-3 before running into a tough Sioux Falls Central team. Central won 6-0, with Bees' Drew Leif smashing a double in the seventh inning to break up the no-hitter.

Jackson Bruce provided a big bat for Pierre throughout the tournament. His double against Brandon set the stage for Cody Honeywell's game-winning home run in a 2-1 victory Friday, as Pierre's defense solidified with three double-plays including a strike-out/throw-out at first and home as catcher A.J. Dorschner blocked the plate.

Bruce was 3-for-3 in the first game against Yankton, with two runs scored, while Ben Leidholt was 3-for-4 with a double and Joel Jochim was 2-for-3 with two runs scored.

The rematch against Yankton saw Mark Ray draw three walks for the Bees and bat in a run, while Leidholt was 2-for-4, Bruce had a hit and a walk and Jochim came up with another hit in the low-scoring struggle.

Teener A's fall to Aberdeen in season-ending loss

SIOUX FALLS -- Their luck finally ran out and determination alone eventually just wasn't enough. The Pierre Post 8 Teener A's lost 10-7 Saturday to Aberdeen in an extra-inning ending to their season, as the A's were eliminated from the South Dakota VFW Varsity AA Majors state tournament.

Aberdeen went on to defeat Yankton and earn a berth in Sunday's championship round against Sioux Falls East. Pierre, coached by Bill Gayton and Jason Livermont, finished the tournament with two wins and two losses, good enough for fourth place in the eight-team state field.

The A's had defeated Aberdeen in all four of their regular-season games. On Saturday, however, Aberdeen took a 2-0 lead in the second inning against starting pitcher Willie Welch, and the A's led only once.

The A's pulled within 2-1 in the bottom of the third inning on the combination of a Chase Lettau double and a Carson Eisenbeisz sacrifice fly. Aberdeen got a run back in the fourth to lead 3-1.

With Kyle Sarringar pitching in relief of Welch, the A's tied the game at 3-3 in the fifth, scoring two runs while getting only one hit. Lettau singled and stole second base, Mac Mercer walked and Lettau eventually scored on an errant pickoff play at first base while Austin Wagner was batting. Wagner walked, and Eisenbeisz drove home Mercer with a sacrifice fly.

Aberdeen got a run in the sixth, but the A's came back in the bottom of the inning to go ahead 6-4. The three Pierre runs came without a hit. Eliott Coughlin was hit by a pitch, Sarringar walked, Alex McGuigan was hit by a pitch, and Lettau was hit by a pitch with bases loaded to force in a run. Mercer hit a sacrifice fly to drive in the second run. Then McGuigan scored from third base as Lettau stayed alive long enough in a pickle between first and second base on a pickoff play.

Trailing 6-4, Aberdeen's batters put the pressure on Pierre's defense in the seventh and forced an assortment of infield errors and mistakes. The game nearly ended in a Pierre victory on a home-to-first double play attempt, but the throw hit the runner at first base. Instead Aberdeen eventually scored three runs to pull ahead 7-6.

Pierre tied the score at 7-7 on a fielder's choice by Jared Erickson and had the bases loaded again but couldn't get the winning run home.

Aberdeen scored three runs in the eighth inning off reliever Ryan Goodwin and Pierre couldn't score. Pierre struggled throughout the game to get hits and finished with just four. Of Pierre's first 15 outs, 13 were popups or outfield flies.

The A's finished the year with an overall record of 37 wins and 11 losses. 

Teener Bees win opener at state on Honeywell homer

BRANDON -- The Pierre Post 8 Teener Bees took a 2-1 victory over host Brandon in the opening game of the South Dakota VFW Varsity AA Minors state tournament Friday behind top pitching by Drew Leif and a two-run homer from Cody Honeywell.

Leif threw a complete seven-inning game for the victory. Honeywell's blast cleared the fence in left-center field with Jackson Bruce on base. Brandon had recently beaten the Bees in regular-season play.

The Bees play two games Saturday, starting at noon vs. Yankton and at 8 p.m. vs. Sioux Falls Central. The top two finishers in pool play advance to the championship Sunday in the six-team tournament, while the No. 2 finishers in pool play will battle for third place.

Teener A's split on day two of state tournament, make final four

SIOUX FALLS -- The Pierre Post 8 Teener A's started strong but went scoreless for the final five innings Friday afternoon, falling 6-4 to Sioux Falls East in the second round of play at the South Dakota VFW AA Varsity Majors state tournament.

The A's stayed alive in the double-elimination tournament by defeating Watertown 16-6 in six innings Friday night, ripping open a one-run game with nine runs in the bottom of the sixth and ending Watertown's chance for a second-straight state championship.

Pierre stands with a record of two wins and one loss in the tournament heading into the third round of action in the eight-team field. Pierre faces Aberdeen in a loser-out elimination game at noon Saturday. If Pierre wins, the team will play again at 3 p.m., facing the loser of the Yankton-East showdown that also starts at noon. The championship round is Sunday.

Against East, the score seesawed in the opening frames. Pierre tied the score at 2-2 in the bottom of the first inning as Austin Wagner walked, Carson Eisenbeisz singled and Jared Neilan batted them in with a double. East climbed ahead again with a run in the top of the second inning, but Alex McGuigan cranked a two-run homer after Willie Welch had singled, giving Pierre a 4-3 lead.

East scored a run in the fourth to tie the game against starting pitcher Chase Lettau, then managed to plate two more in the fifth against reliever Welch. He held East scoreless the rest of the way, but Pierre couldn't muster any sustained offense against East reliever Derek Sahr, who was credited for the win with 4-plus scoreless innings.

Against Watertown, Pierre came out hustling and agressive. Singles by Austin Wagner and Carson Eisenbeisz set the table for an RBI single by Jared Neilan and a two-run triple by Eliott Coughlin, who motored home on an overthrow at third base to score on the play, giving Pierre a 4-0 lead in the first inning.

Second baseman Jared Erickson made a highlight-reel catch and throw deep in the first-base hole to shut off a Watertown rally in the second inning. Chase Lettau drew a walk and Mac Mercer lined a run-scoring double in the bottom of the frame to put the A's up 5-0.

Watertown finally got a run on the scoreboard in the third inning against Pierre starting pitcher Alex McGuigan. Watertown added a run in the fourth on a combination of a walk and a single.

Kyle Sarringar relieved McGuigan to start the fifth inning with a 5-2 lead. His teammates gave him a 7-2 cushion on Lettau's bases-loaded, two-out, two-run single. The extra runs came in handy when Watertown took advantage of several Pierre errors to score four runs in the top of the sixth inning and pull within 7-6.

Then the wheels fell off for Watertown. Eisenbeisz smashed a grounder that the shortstop couldn't handle, Neilan singled on a 0-2 pitch through the third-base hole, Coughlin followed with a clean single, and Erickson worked back from an 0-2 count to draw a bases-loaded RBI walk for an 8-6 Pierre lead.

The A's plated another run when Sarringar was hit by a pitch for an RBI. Nate Buscher flared a single to right field for an RBI. During Lettau's at-bat, Erickson scored on a wild pitch, and Lettau eventually drew a walk to re-load the bases. Mercer drew a walk to push home another run. Wagner ripped a line drive into straight center for two RBI. Mercer scored on a passed ball during Eisenbeisz's second at-bat of the inning, and Eisenbeisz walked.

With Watertown's infielders playing in, Neilan belted a sacrifice fly deep enough into center field to push home the final run needed to make the score 16-6 and give Pierre the victory on the 10-run mercy rule.

Other second-day results saw Yankton explode for eight runs in the sixth inning and defeat Aberdeen 12-6, and Aberdeen later eliminating Mitchell 5-4. In Thursday elimination games, Watertown had bounced Sioux Falls West 7-2 and Mitchell sent Huron home 8-2.

The remaining four teams are East with two wins, Yankton with two wins, Pierre with two wins and one loss, and Aberdeen with two wins and one loss.

Mitchell and Watertown each finished with one win and two losses, while West and Huron made the earliest exits with two losses.

Teener A's State Tourney Day One: Pierre 2, Mitchell 1

SIOUX FALLS -- The Pierre Post 8 Teener A's won their first-round game Thursday in the South Dakota VFW Majors AA state tournament, defeating Mitchell 2-1. The A's play Sioux Falls East at 4 p.m. Friday.

The A's trailed 1-0 when Carson Eisenbeisz and Jared Neilan singled to break up a no-hitter and put two runners aboard in the bottom of the fourth inning. With two outs and Eisenbeisz on third base and Neilan at second, Ryan Goodwin squibbed a ground ball that Mitchell's second baseman couldn't handle. Goodwin dove into first safely, while Eisenbeisz scored. Neilan read the play and raced home from third to beat the throw to the plate, scoring what would stand as the winning run.

Mac Mercer pitched the complete seven-inning game, striking out the side in the bottom of the seventh for the win. Mercer gave up three hits, struck out seven, walked two and hit one batter. The infield of third baseman Chase Lettau, shortstop Goodwin, second baseman Jared Erickson and first baseman Austin Wagner played errorless defense behind him on repeated ground balls, and the outfield of Eisenbeisz, Neilan and Nate Buscher made no mistakes.

Mitchell had defeated Pierre 4-1 in a conference game last week at Mitchell. Pierre beat Mitchell in their two other games this season 15-0 and 14-1.

Pierre's Friday opponent, Sioux Falls East, won 8-7 over Huron in 12 innings Thursday evening. In other first-round games, Yankton edged Watertown 2-1, while Aberdeen upset top-seeded Sioux Falls West 9-5. The tournament is double elimination.

First-round games set:

Teener A's face Mitchell,

Teener Bees take on Brandon

The seedings appear to be complete, and the Pierre Post 8 Teener A's will play Mitchell in the first round of the VFW Teener 15-16 AA Varsity Majors state baseball tournament.

According to bracket posted on the website of the host Sioux Empire Baseball Association, Pierre will be playing at 4 p.m. Thursday at one of the fields at the Sioux Falls Harmodon complex.

All eight of the teams in the tournament will play simultaneously at 4 p.m. Thursday on one of four Harmodon fields, according to the bracket posted by SEBA. (The South Dakota VFW hasn't posted a bracket yet.)

The matchups are Pierre as the North No. 1 seed against Mitchell as the South No. 4 seed; Huron as the North No. 3 seed against Sioux Falls East as the South No. 2 seed; Watertown as the North No. 2 seed against Yankton as the South No. 3 seed; and Aberdeen as the North No. 4 seed against Sioux Falls West as the South No. 1 seed.

Pierre finished conference play with 10 wins and three losses, the defeats coming against Mitchell 4-1, East 7-2 and West 5-3. Pierre went 8-0 against North Division opponents.

The four teams that lose in the first-round games will play again that evening in elimination games at 7 p.m. Thursday. The two losers of the 7 p.m. games would be eliminated from the double-elimination tournament with their second losses.

Winners of the first-round games will play each other in the second round at 4 p.m. on Friday. The two winners of the Friday 4 p.m. games would advance to Saturday play.

The two losers of the two 4 p.m. games on Friday would play again Friday evening at 7 p.m., against the winners of the Thursday 7 p.m. elimination games. Losers of the Friday 7 p.m. games would be eliminated from further play with their second losses.

The remaining four teams would advance to third-round play on Saturday with two games starting at noon. One game would feature the remaining two undefeated teams, and the winner would advance to Sunday's championship round.

The other game at noon Saturday would feature the remaining two once-beaten teams, with the loser eliminated. Another elimination game would be played Saturday at 3 p.m. between the two remaining once-beaten teams, with the loser eliminated while the winner advances to Sunday's championship round.

The championship round on Sunday has the first game scheduled for noon. If a second game is necessary, game time would be 3 p.m. The 3 p.m. game would be necessary only if the unbeaten team lost to the once-beaten team in the noon game.

The Pierre Post 8 Teener Bees open their six-team state tournament at Brandon with a 2:30 p.m. game Friday against host Brandon Valley. They have two games on Saturday, facing Yankton at noon and battling Sioux Falls Central at 8 p.m.

The six teams are split in two pools. One pool has Sioux Falls South, Yankton and Huron. The other pool has Brandon Valley, Pierre and Sioux Falls Central.

The teams will be re-ranked after completion of the pool-play rounds. The two teams which finished second in their respective pools will play Sunday at 10 a.m. for third place. The two teams which finished first in their pools will play for the championship Sunday at 3 p.m.

The tie-breaking system for the Bees' tournament is record, followed by head-to-head, then least runs allowed and finally most runs scored.

Pierre Teeners lose 2-1 in VFW 13-14 state semi-finals, defeat Huron for third

HURON -- Brookings scored two runs in the sixth inning to erase a 1-0 deficit and defeated the Pierre Teeners 2-1 Sunday morning in the semi-final round of the South Dakota VFW AA Majors 13-14 state tournament.

Brookings went on to defeat Sioux Falls West 15-5 for the state title, while Pierre beat Huron 11-1 for third place in four innings behind starting pitcher Cash Anderson and extra-base hits by Connor Ryan and Blake Dean.

Pierre finished the tournament with four wins and one loss, as did Brookings. Pierre went into championship Sunday unbeaten behind its deep staff of solid pitchers, standing as the No. 1 seed after three straight wins in the earlier rounds Friday and Saturday. Pierre gave up just eight runs in five games in the tournament. Overall the 34s finished with 29 wins and eight losses for the summer, after a 1-4 start.

Pierre broke open a scoreless battle against Brookings with a run in the fifth inning. Justin Berheim reached base on an infield error, moved up on Alec Norwick's single and scored on Cash Anderson's RBI single with one out.

But the inning ended in frustration for Pierre as Norwick and Anderson were stranded on third and second. Pierre left six runners on second and third base in the tight game.

Brookings knotted the score at 1-1 on a freak play in the top of the sixth inning. A lead-off double put a Brookings runner at second base, and he tried to steal third while Pierre's infield was still regrouping. He seemed to be out, but the ball slipped out of the Pierre fielder's glove on the tag and rolled far enough away for the runner to race home.

The next Brookings batter singled and Garrett Gerstner delivered the game-winning hit when he smashed a double to the right-center wall for an RBI and the 2-1 lead.

Cooper Walton had pitched a sterling game for Pierre to that point. In six innings of work he struck out nine Brookings batters, walked one, hit one with a pitch and allowed five hits. Alex Gray pitched a scoreless seventh inning for Pierre, giving up three hits but wriggling out of a bases-loaded no-out jam.

The defeat put Pierre into the third-place game later Sunday afternoon.

Pierre defeated Rapid City Blue 6-1 and Mitchell 4-2 on Saturday. Isaac Grode was the winning pitcher against Rapid City, while Graham Protexter was the winning pitcher against Mitchell, each going four innings. In each game Austin Christopherson took the mound in relief for a pair of scoreless three-inning saves.

Against Rapid City, a two-out error and a hit-by-pitch led to two unearned runs when Cooper Walton lined a double down the right field line for a 2-1 Pierre lead in the third inning. Another two-out error followed by a Walton double on a hit-and-run play put Pierre ahead 3-1 in the fifth.

Back to back bunts by Nick Rabern and Christopherson, and eventually a RBI sacrifice fly by Justin Berheim and a two-out missed fly ball hit by Cash Anderson for two more runs led to Pierre's final 6-1 margin.

Against Mitchell, an outfield error on a fly ball hit by Walton gave Pierre a 2-0 lead in the first inning. Pierre added two runs in the third on an Anderson double to the wall in left-center, a RBI single by Alex Gray and eventually an RBI groundout by Graham Protexter.

Twice Mitchell ran into double plays on combinations of Grode strike-outs and catcher Norwick catching Mitchell runners trying to steal third base.

Mitchell got a run in the fourth but a superb fielding play by shortstop Anderson and a called third strike thrown by Grode ended that threat. Mitchell pieced together another run in the fifth on a walk, a sacrifice and an two-out infield error.

Teener 13-14s start strong with a big win at state

HURON -- Pierre Post 8 won its opener in the South Dakota VFW AA Majors State Tournament for age 13-14 teams, taking a commanding 12-2 victory in a mercy-shortened five innings against Sioux Falls West.

Eleven of Pierre's runs scored with two outs. Pierre controlled the strike zone on offense and defense and that made the difference. Pierre batters drew nine walks while striking out only twice. West batters walked once while striking out four times.

West took the lead 2-0 in the first inning on a home run over the 266 centerfield fence, but those would be the only runs they would manage against Pierre starting pitcher Cooper Walton and reliever Alex Gray.

Walton struck out three, picked off a runner, walked one and allowed three hits in four innings of work, while the defense committed just one error. Gray took off the catcher gear and pitched the final 1-2-3 inning for a mercy-rule save, as first baseman Walton and Gray combined on a slick 3-1 putout to end the game.

Kasa Field has a regulation infield but has a short-distance outfield that's 269 feet down the left line, 266 to dead center and 214 down the right line. Tournament organizers were forced to use the field in addition to Memorial Stadium, because Huron's new second regulation field next to Memorial isn't finished.

West's home run bounced off the top of the centerfield fence and cost Pierre an outfielder, as Justin Berheim crashed into the fence post and had to leave with only two outs into the game.

West's starting pitcher failed to make it past the first inning, as he issued seven walks against Pierre's steady-eyed batters. Walton tied the game on an 0-2 count with a single to right that sent two Pierre runners home. Five walks in a row later, including RBI passes with bases loaded to Austin Christopherson, Connor Ryan and Shay Reinke, Pierre led 5-2.

Cash Anderson singled in the second inning and eventually scored on a sharp grounder up the middle by Walton that was mishandled to make the score 6-2.

Pierre scored six runs in the third inning on back-to-back singles by Christopherson and Ryan followed by a walk to Reinke, a two-out walk to Anderson, a two-run throwing error on Gray's grounder to shortstop and Walton's three-run homer to right field.

Trailing 12-2, West rapped two straight singles to open the fourth, but Walton struck out the next two batters and Anderson snagged a soft liner up the middle to end the threat.

Gray induced a popup to second, struck out the next batter and beat the third batter to first base on a ball hit to Walton's right to end the game.

Pierre, coached by former Post 8 standouts Mike Fisher and Jordan Heckenlaible, plays its second game Saturday. The 10 a.m. contest at Memorial is against the Rapid City Pony All-Star Blue squad.

Pool-play results from Friday and Saturday will determine the teams that advance in tournament play and teams that will be slotted in the friendship round. It is likely, based on Pierre's win and its low runs-allowed in the first game, that Pierre will play another game later Saturday in the final eight bracket.

The final-four championship round is Sunday. The teams making it to Sunday will all play two games with a semifinals followed by contests for first place and third place. The Pierre 34's took a record of 25 wins and eight losses (and two games with unreported results) into the tournament.

A's finish regular season with a sweep

HURON -- The Pierre Post 8 Teener A's returned to form Wednesday, taking both games of a doubleheader against Huron.

Mac Mercer was the winning pitcher in the 16-1 four-inning victory in the opener as Huron managed just one hit. Chase Lettau was the winning pitcher in the 16-5 five-inning win in the nightcap, with Kyle Sarringar throwing the fifth for the mercy-rule save. Among the many batting highlights was Nate Buscher's performance in the second game, when he went 3-for-3 and a walk.

The A's, coached by Bill Gayton and Jason Livermont, wrapped up their regular season with a record of 35 wins and nine losses. The opener against Huron was their final conference game of the summer, pushing their record in the VFW standings to 10-3 and placing them in position for a high seed at the state tournament in Sioux Falls that opens Thursday, Aug. 12.

Teener A's stumble in split at Mitchell

MITCHELL -- A hot bus ride didn't help but wasn't an excuse for the 4-1 defeat the Pierre Post 8 Teener A's suffered Tuesday night against Mitchell.

The A's came back to win the nightcap 14-1 in five innings, but the first-game loss dropped the A's to a VFW conference record of nine wins and three losses. Only the first games of conference doubleheaders count in the standing, which are used for determining state tournament berths and seeding.

Willie Welch pitched well enough to keep Pierre in a position to win, allowing only two earned runs and spreading seven hits across six innings. But on a still, humid evening when neither team's offense could generate much, two throwing errors by Pierre shortstop Mac Mercer to start Mitchell's half of the first and fourth innings led to two unearned runs.

The A's managed just four hits against long-time nemesis Michael Sadler, the Mitchell starting pitcher, including a first-inning triple by Austin Wagner that gave Pierre its only run.

The A's showed much more spirit as they began the second game. Ryan Goodwin was the winning pitcher, allowing just one run in four innings. Kyle Sarringar returned from a medical layoff to pitch the fifth and get the mercy-rule save. One big hit was Alex McGuigan's triple to help break the game open in the fourth inning.

The A's stand at 33-9 as they travel to Huron today (Wednesday) for their final conference doubleheader of the 2010 season. The VFW state tournament for the large-city age 15-16 teams including Pierre starts Aug. 12 in Sioux Falls.

Teener 13-14's show efficiency against Huron

 The Pierre Post 8 Teeners 13-14 team won two games against Huron at Hyde Stadium on Saturday afternoon in their final scheduled play before the state tournament that opens Friday in Huron.

The 34's defeated Huron 12-3 in six innings in the opener and 9-6 in the second game as they rolled out eight pitchers.

Huron jumped to a 3-0 lead in the opener but the 34's tied the score in their half of the first inning and didn't allow another run. Pierre offensive highlights included a two-run 3-for-4 performance by Cash Anderson, two runs scored by Alec Norwick and two hits apiece by Alex Gray and Trey Campbell.

The second game saw Huron leading 3-1 through three innings. Pierre put the game on ice with eight runs in the fourth inning. No Pierre batter scored more than one run nor had more than one hit.

A's complete sweep against Brandon behind McGuigan

The Pierre Post Teener A's took a 15-0 victory in six innings Saturday against Brandon to complete the two-game two-day sweep of the Diamondcats.

Alex McGuigan had the big day for the A's. He pitched the whole way, striking out ninewithout issuing a walk, while allowing four hits and hitting two Brandon batters. At the plate, McGuigan was 3-for-4 with a single, double and triple.

Another highlight was Nate Buscher's three-RBI double. The A's plated two runs apiece from Austin Wagner, Carson Eisenbeisz, Eliott Coughlin, Chase Lettau and Buscher. Coughlin and Eisenbeisz had two hits apiece.

The victory improved the A's season record to 32-8.

A's grind out win over Brandon

The Pierre Post 8 Teener A's didn't get as many hits, but they made the most of their scoring opportunities Friday and refused to give Brandon a big inning. as they won 12-5 in a South Dakota VFW conference game.

The A's broke open a 1-1 game with four runs in the second inning and five runs in the third, then added two insurance runs in the sixth inning. Eight different A's scored in the game, including two apiece from Eliott Coughlin, Ryan Goodwin, Alex McGuigan and Mac Mercer. Two singles from Carson Eisenbeisz made him the only Pierre batter with more than one hit.

Brandon's lineup was somewhat of a patchwork, and the game's start was delayed a half-hour by some travel issues. Brandon pitchers issued five walks and hit three Pierre batters, while the Brandon fielders committed three errors.

Starting pitcher Mac Mercer went the full seven innngs for Pierre. He struck out 10 while walking three and allowing 10 hits. He was aided by a variety of strong fielding including key plays by first baseman Austin Wagner, right fielder Nate Buscher and third baseman Chase Lettau.

The A's conference record climbed to nine wins and two losses with the victory. The conference standings determine seeding for the state tournament in two weeks at Sioux Falls. The A's have two conference dates remaining, both on the road, against Mitchell on Tuesday and Huron on Wednesday. Their overall season record stands at 31-8.

Post 8 eliminated from state tournament by Aberdeen

MITCHELL -- Pierre Post 8 ended its American Legion baseball season Friday the same way the Eights began with a loss to the Aberdeen Smittys.

Aberdeen bunched six runs into two innings and defeated Pierre 6-2 in a loser-out game at the South Dakota American Legion state tournament. The defeat was Pierre's second of the tourney and eliminated the Eights from further play.

Aberdeen batters rattled Pierre's three pitchers for 15 hits, while the Eights were able to scratch out just seven -- two by Scott Cichos -- against Aberdeen ace Taylor Morsching. Ryan Lauseng, wrapping up his years as a Pierre Teener and American Legion player, made a strong final showing. He pitched effectively in the final innings to hold Aberdeen in check, but Pierre struggled to capitalize on opportunities throughout the game.

Pierre finished the state tournament with a record of one win and two losses. Their final record for the 2010 season stands at 29 victories and 27 defeats.

Rapid City Post 22 nearly no-hits Eights at state

MITCHELL -- Pierre Post 8 came up with only one hit and lost 14-0 to Rapid City Post 22 in seven innings Friday afternoon in the South Dakota American Legion state baseball tournament.

The Eights stand at one win and one loss. They play again later at 5 p.m. today in an elimination game against Aberdeen on Drake Field. The winner stays alive in the double-elimination tournament to play again Saturday at 5 p.m., while the loser is out. The Smittys dumped Alexandria 15-0 in an elimination game earlier Friday.

Rapid City took a 6-0 lead in the second inning against Pierre starting pitcher Adam Deneke. The six runs came on one hit, five errors, two wild pitches and one passed ball as Pierre struggled to field bunts, throw accurately or play basic infield defense.

Deneke had Pierre's only hit with two outs in the seventh inning off reliever Casey Chilstrom. Together winning pitcher Tanner Chleborad and Chilstrom struck out six and walked one.

Pierre has now been outscored 78-14 by Post 22 this season in seven games, all lost by Pierre.

A's outlast Aberdeen for a sweep

Neither game was pretty, but there was plenty of scoring. The Pierre Post 8 Teener A's defeated Aberdeen 11-10 with two runs in the bottom of the last inning Thursday night at Hyde Stadium. In the second game Pierre won 20-16.

Lead-off man Mac Mercer scored four runs and No. 2 batter Austin Wagner three runs while No. 3 batter Carson Eisenbeisz crashed two triples and scored twice to lead Pierre's offense in the opener. Clean-up hitter Jared Erickson hit the game-winning single in the seventh. Erickson was the winning pitcher in relief of starter Ryan Goodwin. Aberdeen had scored seven runs in the top of the seventh to take a 10-9 lead.

The second game saw every Pierre batter score at least once, including three runs apiece for Eliott Coughlin, Eisenbeisz, Wagner and Mercer. Willie Welch was the winning pitcher in relief. Aberdeen scored four runs in the top of the sixth inning to tie the game 16-16. Pierre came back with four in the bottom half capped by a two-RBI single by Welch.

The A's improved their season record to 30 wins and eight losses.

Bees gain a split against Central

SIOUX FALLS -- The Post 8 Teener Bees proved to themselves Wednesday they can compete with Sioux Falls Central. The Bees rallied hard but fell short 9-7 in the first game, then took control the entire way in the second game behind pitcher Jackson Bruce and the defense for a 6-4 win.

In the opener Central took a 5-0 lead through two innings against Pierre starting pitcher Bo Atkins. The Bees put four runs on the board in the fourth inning, before Central reached Pierre reliever Cody Honeywell for three runs in the bottom half. The Bees battled back with two runs in the top of the fifth to pull within 8-6, but Central tallied another run in the bottom half.

Jackson Bruce was 3-for-4 at the plate with two doubles, while Ryan Dufour tripled with two runs batted in and Ben Leidholt hit a two-RBI single.

The second game saw Pierre take leads of 2-1 and 3-2 before pulling ahead for good with three runs in the fifth inning. Bruce pitched the complete seven innings, allowing just one earned run on four hits and one walk while striking out four. Jacob Chambers and Ryan Dufour had two hits each while Drew Leif got on track going 3-for-4 with a run batted in.

Coach Sam Koenecke's Bees stand at 24 wins and seven losses for the season so far.

In another pitching gem, Eights knock down Watertown in state opener

MITCHELL -- Scott Cichos delivered in the clutch once again Wednesday. He pitched a complete nine innings and his hitters came through when needed, as Pierre Post 8 won its opening game of the South Dakota American Legion baseball tournament with a 6-5 victory over Watertown.

The Eights advance in the unbeaten bracket to a 5 p.m. game Thursday against Rapid City Post 22. Pierre hasn't beaten Post 22 this season, including 6-1 and 17-4 defeats in the West regional last week.

On Wednesday, the Eights showed their strengths. Cichos struck out five, including the first batter in the 1-2-3 ninth, and didn't issue a walk. The Eights put out seven consecutive Watertown batters to end the game.

Pierre left fielder Kris Hewlett made a superb catch in the third inning on a deep shot to the gap that was turned into a double play and killed a Watertown rally. Hewlett and third baseman Taylor Owens combined on a relay from left to catcher Garrett Weber to nail Watertown's potential tying run at the plate to end the sixth inning.

Brandon Heckenlaible had scored the winning run for Pierre in the top of the sixth inning on a Nolan Merrill single to break a 5-5 tie. Heckenlaible had singled and taken second on an errant throw. Merrill finished the game 3-for-5 with three runs batted in and one run scored. Heckenlaible scored two of Pierre's runs and had one RBI.

Pierre took a 3-0 lead in the second inning and later trailed 5-3 after four innings. Pierre scored twice in the fifth to tie the game. All six of Pierre's runs came against Watertown ace Dom Wieseler

Errors troubled both teams. Pierre committed three and Watertown four. Only two of the runs surrendered by Cichos were earned, and only two of the runs allowed by Wieseler were earned. A dropped third strike was especially costly to Watertown in the top of the fifth, when Adam Deneke reached first base safely with two outs while Merrill scored on the play to tie the score at 5-5. The next batter flew out.

Deneke, Hewlett and Ryan Lauseng each scored one run for Pierre, while Weber had one RBI.

Watertown had defeated Pierre in a doubleheader at Watertown 4-3, a game which Cichos pitched, and 11-1 during the regular season.

With the win Wednesday, the Eights climbed to 29 wins and 25 losses this summer. Watertown fell to 34-12.

Cichos threw a nine-inning shutout against Spearfish in the West regional qualifying tournament last week to keep Pierre's chances of a state tournament berth alive.

A's take three of four at Fitzgerald

RAPID CITY -- The Pierre Post 8 Teener A's went into Fitzgerald Stadium on Saturday expecting to play a pair of doubleheaders against the Rapid City Post 22 Bullets. What they faced instead were a set of mix-and-match teams from the Post 22 system of top Expos, top Bullets and top Cadets, labeled as Expos and Bullets, as Post 22 prepares for its end-of-season tournaments.

The Expos topped the A's, winning 11-1 in the opener, with starting pitcher Mac Mercer taking the defeat for Pierre. The A's came back and defeated the Bullets 5-1 as they took control from the start. Austin Wagner set the tone as he made an impressive debut as the winning pitcher. Ryan Goodwin came in under pressure and delivered the two-inning save.

The Sunday doubleheader turned into a sweep for the A's. The Bullets led 9-7 after five innings. But the A's scored four runs in the sixth and eight runs in the seventh to win 19-9, as Willie Welch came on in relief for the final four frames and kept the Bullets at bay for the victory. Jared Erickson made a key play at third base.

The final game saw Pierre push out to a 11-0 lead as the hitters connected throughout the lineup and win 16-8, with Alex McGuigan pitching six-plus innings and Eliott Coughlin pounding some big hits while catching his second game of the hot day and third of the series.

Pierre's outfielders played key roles on defense and offense Sunday, including center fielder Carson Eisenbeisz and left fielder Nate Buscher in both games and the right-field combination of Joe Snyder and Chase Lettau.

The A's are now 28-8 on the season and play next on Thursday against Aberdeen in a 5 p.m. doubleheader at Hyde Stadium.

 Eights are going to state! Pierre defeats Sturgis 16-6

RAPID CITY -- Pierre Post 8 refused to lose Thursday night, defeating Sturgis and qualifying for the South Dakota American Legion state baseball tournament.

Coach Bob Sullivan's Eights downed Sturgis 16-6 in a win-or-done elimination game. Pierre joins Rapid City Post 22 in going to the state tournament from the five-team western regional qualifying tournament.

Pierre and Post 22 play today (Friday) at Pete Lien Field at 4 p.m. MT (5 p.m. CT) in the championship round of the regional, for bragging rights and for a potentially better matchup in the state tournament at Mitchell that opens Wednesday, July 28.

Pierre would need to beat Post 22 twice today to win the regional title. Post 22 defeated Pierre 6-1 earlier in the tournament, and Pierre hasn't beaten Post 22 all season.

Pierre improved its season record to 28 wins and 24 losses with the victory against Sturgis. The Eights pulled ahead 2-0 in the first inning on Kris Hewlett's two-run single.

Pierre's early lead didn't last long. Sturgis scored three runs in the top of the second against Eights starting pitcher Adam Deneke on a combination of two walks, a hit-batsman, two hits and a fielder's choice that didn't produce an out.

Pierre took the lead back in the bottom of the second inning. Brandon Heckenlaible singled and advanced on Tanner Wolf's sacrifice bunt. Taylor Owens bounced a one-out single to move Heckenlaible from second to third base. Nolan Merrill held up on a 3-2 pitch for a walk to load the bases. A misplayed ground ball to shortstop turned into a two-out two-run single for Garrett Weber to put Pierre back ahead 4-3. An infield single by Deneke re-loaded the bases. Hewlett then snapped a clean two-run single to make it 6-3.

Sturgis went down in order in the top of the third inning on two ground balls back to Deneke and a strike out. Pierre drew two walks but had both runners erased on a caught-stealing and a pickoff rundown.

A run-scoring infield error and a two-run two-out double off the wall by Michael Baldwin pulled Sturgis back into a 6-6 tie in the top half of the fourth. Baldwin's smash was the first hit of the inning and only the third of the game to that point for Sturgis.

Merrill used his bat and his legs to reach third base in the bottom of the fourth, and Deneke skyed a double to the right-center gap to put Pierre up 7-6. A wild pitch allowed Weber to score for a 8-6 Pierre lead. An infield error on Hewlett's ground ball pushed Deneke home to make it 9-6.

Owens' groundout plated Heckenlaible for a 10-6 lead in the fifth.

Second baseman Heckenlaible and third baseman Owens made nice infield plays to bottle up Sturgis in the top of the sixth -- temporarily. A walk, an infield error and the fourth hit batsman loaded the bases, but Heckenlaible made a sharp throw on a slow roller for the third out.

Pierre loaded the bases in the bottom of the sixth inning. John Breckenridge's ground-out knocked in Weber for an 11-6 lead.

Ryan Lauseng relieved Deneke on the mound and was able to set Sturgis down in order in the seventh inning. Lauseng stung a one-out double in the bottom of the seventh but two called strikeouts ended the threat.

Sturgis got a hit but couldn't score in the eighth. Pierre put the game away with five runs in the bottom of the inning. A wild throw on a Hewlett infield groundball scored two runs, followed by a Heckenlaible RBI sacrifice fly, a Lauseng infield chopper and a wild pitch allowing Wolf to run home, put Pierre up 16-6 for the 10-run mercy-rule victory.

Pierre now stands at two wins and one loss in the regional. Rapid City Post 22 has two wins. Rapid City Post 320, the host team, finished with two losses. Sturgis and Spearfish each had one win and two defeats.

Eights win! Pierre downs Spearfish

RAPID CITY -- Starting pitcher Scott Cichos rose to the challenge and whirled a nine-inning shutout Thursday afternoon, as Pierre Post 8 scored five runs in the second inning and shut down Spearfish 8-0 in the South Dakota American Legion baseball west regional tournament.

Taylor Owens singled to drive in the game's first run, Tanner Wolf hit an RBI single, first baseman Ryan Lauseng belted a two-run triple and lead-off batter Nolan Merrill smacked a sacrifice fly in the big rally.

Owens drove a two-out double deep to score Garrett Weber in the bottom of the fifth inning to make the score 6-0.

Adam Deneke ripped a two-run double with two outs to expand Pierre's lead to 8-0 in the bottom of the sixth. After two hit batters, Pierre left the bases loaded.

The Eights missed another opportunity to end the game early when they weren't able to get a run in the seventh inning  either after loading the bases with one out.

Cichos extended the string of shutout innings to a complete nine as he and the fielders held Spearfish to six hits. Spearfish mounted a rally in the ninth but couldn't score. Cichos struck out five while walking one.

Spearfish was eliminated from the tournament with the defeat and from contention for a state tournament berth. Spearfish had eliminated the tourney host, Rapid City Post 320, earlier Thursday.

Pierre will play again today at 8 p.m. MT (9 p.m. MT). and face the loser of the winner-bracket game between Rapid City Post 22 and Sturgis. The Post 22-Sturgis game starts at 5 p.m. MT.

A Pierre victory tonight guarantees the Eights a berth in the state tournament that starts July 28 in Mitchell.

 Eights lose in regional tournament opener

RAPID CITY -- Pierre Post 8 fell 6-1 to Rapid City Post 22 in the second round of the South Dakota American Legion baseball west-regional tournament Wednesday night.

The Eights managed just one hit in the nine-inning game against 22 starter Tanner Chleborad in his complete-game victory. Tanner Wolf doubled in the sixth inning to break up the no-hitter and eventually scored when he stole home with two outs.

Rapid City greeted Pierre starter Jordan Smith with back-to-back home runs to open the game. Smith generally pitched effectively against the Hardhats, who got 11 hits while striking out three times and walking three times in eight innings.

Rapid City led 5-0 after three innings and Pierre's only glimpse of offense came in the sixth inning. Chleborad struck out 11 Pierre batters and walked one. Post 8 slipped to 26-24 on the season while Post 22 climbed to 41-11.

The Eights play next at 1 p.m. MT Thursday (2 p.m. CT) against the winner of an elimination game that was being played late Wednesday between host Rapid City Post 320 and Spearfish. The game was suspended midway because of a thunderstorm and will be continued today at 10 a.m. MT. Spearfish was leading 5-1 in the bottom of the fourth inning.

Sturgis beat 320 earlier in the day 3-2, and Post 22 defeated Spearfish 16-2. Pierre received a first-round bye.

The Eights are now in a must-win position to qualify for the state tournament that opens July 28 in Mitchell. They need to win at least two regional games without losing again to get a state berth. Post 22 meanwhile is in the driver's seat with two wins already.

A's trump Yankton behind Welch, key hits

The Pierre Post 8 Teener A's posted another win in the conference standings Wednesday with a 5-4 victory over Yankton at Hyde Stadium.

A's starting pitcher Willie Welch went the distance, allowing seven hits and no walks in seven innings, and his fielders repeatedly rose to douse Yankton threats. Welch struck out five and hit one batter.

Mac Mercer's triple to lead off the game set the tone as No. 2 batter Austin Wegner drove him in. Mercer scored two runs, while Wagner scored once and had three runs batted in, including a two-RBI single in the fourth inning to plate Welch and Mercer.

The eventual winning run was pieced together in the fifth, as Eliott Coughlin drew a lead-off walk and courtesy runner Joe Snyder came around on back-to-back singles by Carson Eisenbeisz and Chase Lettau. Lettau also made several key plays on defense at third base.

The second game was halted by lightning that was followed by a long and severe downpour.

 The A's are now 7-2 in the VFW 15-16 state conference standings. The conference records are used to determine state tournament seedings.

The A's head to Rapid City for a four-game set against the Post 22 Bullets in non-conference play Saturday and Sunday. The A's are 25-7 on the season.

Bees post a double no-no

The Post 8 Teener Bees held Mobridge hitless all the way in a doubleheader Tuesday evening at Hyde Stadium.

Starter Sayth Jacobsen was the winning pitcher in the 10-0 victory in a mercy-shortened five innings in the first game. Starter AJ Dorschner was the winning pitcher in the 16-1 mercy-shortened second game.

Combined with Ryan Dufour's five-inning no-hitter against Aberdeen on Sunday afternoon, the Bees have stretched their no-hit streak to three games. The Bees are now 23-6 on the season. They host Platte in a 5:30 p.m. doubleheader Friday at Hyde Stadium

 American Legion West regional pairings

Rapid City Post 320 hosts the five-team field including Pierre Post 8 at Pete Lien Field starting Wednesday afternoon. Post 8 will play only one game on the first day.

The opening game (11 a.m. MT, noon CT) features the 320 Stars against Sturgis. The teams have been a match for each other this season, with Sturgis winning three of five games. The second game pits Rapid City Post 22 against Spearfish (2 p.m. MT, 3 p.m. CT).

Pierre Post 8 plays in the third game of the day (5 p.m. MT, 6 p.m. CT), taking on the winner between Post 22 and Spearfish. The day's final game (8 p.m. MT, 9 p.m. CT) is an elimination showdown between the losers of game one and game two.

The time of Pierre Post 8's second game depends on the outcome of the Wednesday game.

If Post 8 loses its opener on Wednesday, Post 8's next game on Thursday would be at 1 p.m. MT (2 p.m. CT) against another once-beaten team in a win-or-out contest. A loss in that Thursday game would eliminate Post 8 from further play. A victory in that Thursday game would allow Post 8 to advance to another win-or-out game Thursday at 8 p.m. MT (9 p.m. CT).

If Post 8 wins its opener on Wednesday, Post 8's next game would be on Thursday at 4 p.m. MT (5 p.m. CT) against the winner of the Post 320-Sturgis game. A victory in that Thursday game would advance Post 8 to the final-two round on Friday and guarantee the Eights a berth in the state tournament that starts July 28 at Mitchell. A loss in that Thursday 4 p.m. game would force Post 8 into the win-or-out game Thursday at 8 p.m.

Friday's final round features the winner of the Thursday 4 p.m. game and the winner of the Thursday 8 p.m. game. The first game on Friday is scheduled for 4 p.m. MT (5 p.m. CT) between the only unbeaten team and the only once-beaten team. The second game is set for 8 p.m. MT (9 p.m. CT) if necessary; the game will be played only if the unbeaten team loses in the 4 p.m. game Friday.

The full bracket can be found at the Post 320 web site under the schedule heading (www.post320stars.org) at http://www.post320stars.org/2010%20Region%203A%20Tournament.pdf.

Pierre takes first and second in Kirley!

Pierre Post 8 teams locked down first place and second place in the Joe Kirley Memorial tournament for Teener 13-14 and Teener B teams at Hyde Stadium.

The Pierre 13-14 squad rolled to a perfect 4-0 record with a 11-1 win over an Aberdeen 13-14 B team Sunday. It was the first time a Pierre team won the Kirley tournament. The 34's attack was paced by Shay Reinke's two triples, one single and two runs and by Cash Anderson three hits and three runs.

The Pierre Teener Bees used a no-hitter by Ryan Dufour to top Aberdeen's top 13-14 team 8-0 in five innings Sunday evening. Cody Honeywell and Sayth Jacobsen scored two runs apiece to put the sting in the Bees' offensive attack. The Bees finished 3-1, with their only loss by one run against Rapid City Post 22.

The seven wins and one loss for the two Pierre teams marked the strongest performance in Post 8's years of hosting the tourney. The 34's are coached by Mike Fisher and Jordan Heckenlaible. The Bees are coached by Sam Koenecke and Michael Gardner. The four are former Post 8 American Legion players. 

 Post 8 teams rack up a weekend full of wins

Pierre Post 8 teams won five of the six games they played Saturday. The American Legion varsity Eights split at Huron, rallying for five runs in the seventh inning to tie the score before falling 8-7 in the bottom of the frame. The Eights had just four hits and a whopping 11 walks. They blasted to a 13-3 win in the nightcap as seven Pierre batters -- Nolan Merrill, Brandon Heckenlaible, Scott Cichos, Orin Burke, Tanner Wolf, Stephen Nielson and Chancy Riggle -- had two hits apiece while starting pitcher Royce Pease went six innings without allowing an earned run.

The Teener A's went to Watertown and swept both games. They won the conference first game 13-3 in six innings and took the second contest 11-6 in a weather-shortened five innings. Starters Mac Mercer and Chase Lettau were the winning pitchers going the distance in their respective games. In the conference game, Pierre's defense repeatedly locked down Watertown while the batters eventually broke loose with big rallies in the fifth and sixth innings in a true team victory. The A's have now defeated Watertown in all four of the teams' games this season.

The Teener Bees and the Teener 13-14 squad each won its game Saturday in the Kirley tournament (see above and below).

The American Legion Eights finished their regular season at 26 wins and 23 losses. The Eights now head into the West regional at Rapid City Post 320's home park. The top finishers at the regional earn berths in the South Dakota American Legion state tournament. The regional features five teams -- Rapid City 320, Rapid City Post 22, Pierre Post 8, Spearfish and Sturgis -- at 320's Pete Lien Field. Pierre's first game is Wednesday, July 21, at 5 p.m. against the winner of the 1 p.m. game between Rapid City 22 and Spearfish.

The Teener A's now stand with a 6-2 conference record and are 24-7 for the year. The A's host Yankton at Hyde Stadium on Wednesday in a 2 p.m. doubleheader.

The Bees are 21-6 and the 34s are 22-6.

Pierre teams in the front seats at Kirley

Watertown, three Aberdeen teams and the Rapid City Post 22 Cadets came to Hyde Stadium for annual Joe Kirley Memorial Tournament hosted by the Pierre Post 8 Teener 13-14 squad and the Pierre Teener Bees.

Action started at noon today (Friday) when the Pierre 34s defeated Watertown 10-8. The 2:30 saw the Pierre Bees take a 12-run mercy-rule victory over Watertown. The 34s beat the Rapid City Cadets 4-3 on a two-out single by Alex Gray, while the Cadets slipped past the Bees 4-3 with a run in the sixth inning.

Saturday saw the 34s run their tourney mark to three wins and no losses with a 13-11 victory over the Aberdeen Smittys 13-14 squad Saturday night. Pierre scored two runs in the bottom of sixth inning. The rally started with Isaac Grode drawing a two-out walk, followed by a double by Justin Berheim and Cash Anderson reaching base on an error. Berheim, the team's lead-off hitter, scored two runs. Grode, the teams' No. 9 hitter, scored two runs. Grode reached base in all four trips to the plate with a single, two walks and an error.

The Bees meanwhile climbed to two wins and one loss with a 6-0 shutout pitched by starter Bo Atkins and relief from Cody Honeywell against Aberdeen Gold. The Bees played errorless defense. Second baseman Jacob Chambers was perfect in five chances, including starting a key double play to help erase a n Aberdeen rally. Drew Leif led the offense, going 3-for-3 and scoring two runs.

A's take the broom to Brookings

The Pierre Post 8 Teener A's stumped Brookings once again Thursday, sweeping a doubleheader 12-2 and 10-0 at Hyde Stadium.

Willie Welch was the winning pitcher in the first game, which lasted just five innings under the 10-run mercy rule. In the nightcap Alex McGuigan had a one-hitter through six innings when the game was stopped on the mercy rule again.

Welch scored three runs from the traditional No. 9 pitcher's spot in the batting order, drawing two walks and rapping a single to get on board in every one of his trips to the plate. Mac Mercer, batting leadoff, was 3-for-4 with two runs. Nate Buscher banged a double and a triple and scored twice. Austin Wagner had two hits including a single that opened Pierre's three-run rally in the fourth.

McGuigan turned in his best pitching performance of the season and perhaps so far in his Teeners years. He struck out 11, including nine looking at called third strikes, while walking one. Pierre's defense played error-free behind him. The only Brookings hit was a clean shot to left with two outs in the fifth inning by Sawyer Caldwell.

Carson Eisenbeisz and Jared Erickson, batting from the No. 2 and 3 slots in the order, scored two runs apiece to spark Pierre's offense in the second game. Erickson was perfect in four trips to the plate, working three walks and a knocking a single. McGuigan was the only Pierre batter with more than one hit. He had two singles and a walk.

The A's raised their VFW Teeners conference record to five wins and two losses with the 12-2 win. Only the first game of a doubleheader counts in the conference standings. The A's return to action Saturday afternoon with a conference matchup at Watertown.

The A's beat Brookings in all four games they've played this season.

Post 8 wins two more in American Legion play

STURGIS -- This year's Pierre Post 8 American Legion team has many sides and two familiar ones were on display Tuesday in a triangular against Sturgis and Spearfish.

The Eights choked Sturgis 4-1 behind a complete seven-inning victory by starting pitcher Jordan Smith, solid defense and timely hitting. Then the Eights nearly folded against Spearfish, giving up an eight-run lead and needing an extra eighth inning to rally to a 12-10 victory.

Sturgis defeated Spearfish 5-4 in the triangular, as the three teams prepared for their West regional tournament with host Rapid City Post 320 and Rapid City Post 22 that begins July 20. The top two teams advance from the regional to the South Dakota American Legion tournament in Mitchell.

The Eights previously split a doubleheader at home on June 16 against Sturgis and lost to Spearfish in the Yankton wood-bat tournament in early June. Pierre climbed to 24 wins and 21 losses with the two victories Tuesday. Pierre hasn't beaten either Rapid City varsity team this summer in seven tries.

Adam Deneke provided a key share of Pierre's offense against Sturgis on Tuesday. He went 2-for-4 with two runs scored and two runs batted in. His triple in the fifth inning knocked in Scott Cichos, who had singled, and he scored on John Breckenridge's sacrifice fly to give Pierre a 3-1 lead. Deneke's solo home run in the seventh provided an insurance run.

Smith continued his season-long improvement on the mound. Sturgis scratched out five hits and two walks against him while he struck out two. Pierre's batters meanwhile managed just five hits and four walks while striking out six times against Sturgis pitcher Chris Vinson, who went all seven innings.

Against Spearfish the Eights belted 16 hits and left nine runners on base en route to the extra-inning win. Second baseman Brandon Heckenlaible was 4-for-5 with two runs and two RBI. Adam Deneke was 3-for-4 including a triple with two runs and two RBI. Garrett Weber was 2-for-4, both hits for doubles, with two runs and three RBI. Kris Hewlett was 2-for-5 with two runs and two RBI. Dylan Schiltz was 2-for-5 with two runs and one RBI.

Pierre seemed to be in the driver's seat, leading 9-1 after their half of the sixth inning. But Spearfish came up with six runs, four of them unearned, after a passed ball on a strikeout by the first batter opened the gate.

Pierre put another run on the board in the top of the seventh as Scott Cichos was hit by a pitch with bases loaded to force home Heckenlabile for a 10-7 lead. Spearfish wasn't done, scoring three times in the bottom of the seventh on a two-out, three-run double by Macin Ager to tie the game. Deneke came on to pitch relief and hurled a strike-out to strand the potential winning run at second base.

The Eights came up with two runs in the eighth as Deneke and Hewlett put their bats and their baserunning to work. Deneke led off with a single, stole second base, took third on a passed ball and scored on Hewlett's RBI single. Hewlett stole second, moved to third on John Breckenridge's groundout and scored on a Heckenlaible RBI single.

Deneke pitched the eighth. Spearfish put two runners aboard through an error and a hit, but he struck out No. 8 batter Jordan Louks to extinguish the threat. Deneke was the winning pitcher. Pierre starter Taylor Owens went 5.1 innings and gave up seven runs, three earned, on 10 hits and no walks. Reliever Ryan Lauseng threw 1.1 innings, allowing three earned runs on four hits and a walk.

The Eights return to action with a doubleheader at Aberdeen Thursday.

Pierre falls to Valley Springs, defeats Huron in Koester tourney's second day

O man!

Orin Burke's grand slam in the bottom of the sixth inning broke open a one-run game and launched Pierre Post 8 to a 14-10 win over Huron in the final game of the 21st annual Doug Koester Memorial American Legion baseball tournament Sunday night.

Burke's blast was one of two home runs in the game. Adam Deneke had put Pierre ahead 3-2 in the first inning with a three-run shot.

John Breckenridge went 3-for-4 with three runs scored and one run batted in. Deneke was 2-for-3 with three runs and four RBI. Scott Cichos was 2-for-2 with two runs. Starting pitcher Royce Pease went four innings for the win, with Stephen Nielson throwing two innings and Taylor Owens one inning in relief. Nielson had to leave the game after being struck hard in the right leg by a batted ball.

The victory evened the Eights' record in the tournament at two wins and two losses. Pierre lost 3-2 to Valley Springs in the early-evening game Sunday. Regina won the tournament with a 3-1 record, while Pierre, New Ulm and Valley Springs all went 2-2. Huron was 1-3.

Against Valley Springs, two errors led to unearned runs and a loss for the hometown Eights. Valley Springs scored two runs in the first inning, the second the result of an error, and added an error-assisted run in the fourth to take a 3-1 lead.

Nolan Merrill took the tough loss, pitching the full seven innings. Valley Springs had eight hits and one walk against him, while he struck out seven batters.

Pierre scored its first run in the second inning on the combination of some wildness by the Valley Springs pitcher and the speed of Adam Deneke. Deneke drew a walk, stole second base, advanced to third on a passed ball and scored on a passed ball.

Pierre trimmed the deficit with a run in the fifth as John Breckenridge singled and Tanner Wolf stroked a RBI double. Pierre had some narrow chances to score again, but Deneke was stranded after his two-out triple in the sixth and Wolf's two-out single in the bottom of the seventh went for naught.

The Eights managed just five hits and one walk against Valley Springs pitcher Derek Fischer. He struck out 12 Pierre batters in the complete-game win.

Koester Tournament results:
Day 1:
Huron  7                 Valley Springs 4
Regina, Sk 8         Huron 0
New Ulm, MN 11   Valley Springs 8
Regina, Sk 7         Pierre   5
Pierre 9                  New Ulm, MN 8  (8 Innings)

Day 2
Valley Springs 10  Regina, Sk  5
New Ulm, MN   12  Huron  0
Regina, Sk 13        New Ulm, MN 11
Pierre 2                  Valley Springs 3
Pierre 14                Huron 10

We have raffle winners!

Each year the Post 8 American Legion and Teener baseball players sell raffle tickets to help pay for the season. Here are the winners drawn Saturday:

Four Twins tickets and $150 -- Kim Paxton; Four Rockies tickets and $100 -- Gary Hoscheid; Four Sioux Falls Pheasants tickets and $50 -- Betty Heron.

Holiday Inn Express weekend -- Keva Jones; Ramkota Inn weekend -- Justin Nagel; 50 pounds ground beef sponsored by American State Bank -- Nancy Heckenlaible; Slumberland recliner -- Dorothy Gray; Don's Sinclair $100 gas card -- Doug Decker; Don's Sinclair $50 gas card -- Jim Laird; $100 savings bond sponsored by Wells Fargo -- Barb Mitchell; $50 cash sponsored by Boyd Conzemius American Family Insurance agency -- Lana Laurenz; $50 cash sponsored by Reinke Gray Wealth Management -- Alex Rodgriguez.

Congratulations to the winners, thanks to the sponsors for another season of help, and most of all thanks to all who helped support Post 8 Baseball by participating in the raffle.

Regina evens score against Eights

Pierre Post 8 split its pair of opening round games Saturday in the annual Doug Koester Memorial Tournament at Hyde Stadium, falling 7-5 to Regina and coming back to edge New Ulm 9-8 in an extra eighth inning on Garrett Weber's two-out single.

The Eights had defeated Regina in a tune-up game Friday evening, but the visiting Athletics used two big innings to win Saturday. The Athletics scored three runs in the fourth inning and three runs in the sixth to overcome Pierre's lead. Pierre didn't score in the sixth or the seventh.

The Eights managed just seven hits off a pair of Regina pitchers. Kris Hewlett was 2-for-3 and Tanner Wolf homered. Starting pitcher Ryan Lauseng took the loss on the mound for Pierre, allowing 10 hits and three walks in five-plus innings of work. He gave up three consecutive hits to open the sixth,with one run scoring. Reliever Jordan Smith walked a batter to load the bases and put on the force, and the Eights turned a double play. But a two-out single sent home the decisive two runs.

In the day's final game, neither Pierre nor New Ulm would relent. New Ulm led 3-0 before the Eights put up a big fourth. Garrett Weber and Adam Deneke ripped consecutive doubles and Tanner Wolf smashed his second home run of the day to give Pierre a 4-3 lead.

New Ulm fired back with three runs in the top of the sixth inning, and Pierre responded with a run created by Deneke's second double of the game. New Ulm got another run in the seventh, and Pierre came back with two runs in the bottom to tie the score at 7-7 as Nolan Merrill led off with a home run, John Breckenridge walked, Garrett Weber sacrificed him to second and Deneke drove him home with a RBI single.

The extra eighth inning opened with New Ulm scoring one run and trying to score a second one. But rightfielder Merrill threw into the cutoff and first baseman Scott Cichos relayed home to catcher Weber to nail New Ulm's runner at the plate.

Pierre needed a run to stay alive but scored two to get the win in the bottom of the eighth. Wolf opened with a single, moved to second on a Cichos sacrfice, took third on a passed ball and scored on Merrill's single. Merrill went to second on a Breckenridge ground out and Weber hit the game-winning single to score Merrill.

Breckenridge pitched the final two innings in relief of starter Cichos to get the win on the mound. Deneke was 3-for-4 with two runs and two RBI. Merrill and Wolf each was 2-for-4 with two runs and two RBI apiece. Weber and Breckenridge each had two hits, Weber with one run and one RBI and Breckenridge with one run.

A's topple Cheyenne

RAPID CITY -- The Pierre Post 8 Teener A's played up to the level of the competition and knocked off Cheyenne's American Legion split squad 11-10 Saturday in the second round of games in the Rapid City Post 22 Expos tournament.

Pierre's Sunday afternoon game against Lennox was rained out after a half-hour delay. Pierre's Sunday evening game against the host Post 22 Expos was halted in the bottom of the fourth inning as steady rain fell. Pierre sat and waited two and one-half hours to start the last game after the Lennox game was cancelled.

Starting pitcher Chase Lettau battled through five innings to get the win against Cheyenne, with relief from Ryan Goodwin in the sixth and Jared Neilan in the seventh. The A's fell behind early but fought back several times behind patient walks, singles and three big blows. Nate Buscher smashed two doubles and Neilan crushed a triple to drive in six Pierre runs. Mac Mercer drew three walks and singled, scoring three runs, while Austin Wagner and Joe Snyder each scored twice. Snyder's base-hit bunt with two runners aboard ignited Pierre's first big rally.

Goodwin and Lettau made numerous good fielding plays at third base against Cheyenne.

The A's finished 1-1 in the tourney. The Expos went 3-0, while Lennox was 0-3, Wheatland 2-2 and Cheyenne 2-2.

34's win twice on first day of Smittys tourney

ABERDEEN -- The Pierre Post 8 Teener 13-14 squad got off to a strong start Saturday in the Aberdeen Smittys tournament, winning twice. The 34s defeated Brookings 5-4, with Cooper Walton the winning pitcher. They busted loose to defeat Aberdeen 15-5 in four innings, with Graham Protexter the winning pitcher. The tournament continues Sunday. Further details will be posted as they become available.

Bees stay on victory track

FAULKTON -- The Pierre Post 8 Teener Bees put two more games in the win column Friday night, defeating Orient-Faulkton 16-3 in six innings and 6-4. The Bees have now won 11 of their past 12 games. They host Chamberlain at Hyde Stadium on Monday in a 5:30 p.m. doubleheader.

Cody Honeywell pitched the opening game against Faulkton. He went all six innings, scattering seven hits while striking out two without a walk. His fielders made just one error. He helped himself at the plate, going 2-for-4 with a double and one RBI. Ryan Dufour was 2-for-3 with one RBI. Ben Leidholt was 3-for-5 with three RBI.

The second game started rough for the Bees, but they overcame a 4-1 deficit to win with five runs in the fifth inning. Jack Bruce threw two-plus innings of relief, allowing just one run on one hit and one walk to get the victory. Drew Leif threw an inning of scoreless relief for the save. Bruce was 2-for-3 at the plate with two RBI. A.J. Dorschner was 1-for-2 with two runs scored and two stolen bases. Ryan Dufour was 1-for-3 with a key single for a RBI.

Eights edge Regina in Friday action

Pierre Post 8 tipped the visiting Regina Athletics 8-7 Friday evening at Hyde Stadium in American Legion baseball.

Regina scored three runs in the top of the third inning to take a 4-0 lead. The Eights showed their backbone, scoring three times in the bottom of the frame on a Brandon Heckenlaible double, a Tanner Wolf single, a Taylor Owens sacrifice fly and a Nolan Merrill two-run homer.

 The Eights stayed hot with two more runs in the fourth, as Kris Hewlett, Wolf, Merrill and Scott Cichos strung together singles. A single by Adam Deneke, a single by Hewlett and two errors allowed Pierre to plate two runs in the fifth.

Regina roared back in the sixth, overcoming a double play to go on to knock in three runs off Pierre reliever Taylor Owens. But Owens set the Athletics down 1-2-3 in the seventh without a ball getting out of the infield.

Regina is one of four visiting teams in Pierre for the Koester tournament this weekend. The game Friday was not officially part of the tourney, which opens Saturday morning. (See schedule and details below.)

Wheatland holds off A's

RAPID CITY -- The Pierre Post 8 Teener A's rallied for five runs in the bottom of the seventh inning and loaded the bases again with two outs, but the Wheatland, Wyoming, American Legion team held on to win 11-9 Friday in the first round of Rapid City Post 22's Expos tournament.

The A's face a Cheyenne, Wyoming, American Legion split squad at noon MT Saturday. The A's took only Teeners-level players into the tough field.

Big weekend of baseball with Koester Tournament

Pierre Post 8 hosts the annual Doug Koester Memorial Tournament for American Legion teams this weekend. Regina, Saskatchewan, and New Ulm, Minnesota, join the field with Huron, Valley Springs and our hometown Eights. The teams will play each other once in the two-day tourney Saturday and Sunday.

Regina and Pierre play each other in a single non-tournament game on Friday evening at 7:30.  

On Saturday, Huron meets Valley Springs at 10 a.m., followed by Huron playing Regina at 12:15 p.m. New Ulm and Valley Springs square off at 2:30 p.m. Pierre plays day's final two games against Regina at 4:45 p.m. and against New Ulm at 7 p.m.

Sunday's action starts at 10 a.m. with Valley Springs tangling with Regina, followed by Huron and New Ulm at 12:15 p.m. The 2:30 p.m. game pits Regina and New Ulm. Pierre again plays the day's last set of games, meeting Valley Springs at 4:45 p.m. and Huron at 7 p.m.

Daily admission is $5. No passes will be sold or honored for the Saturday and Sunday games, except POST 8 past players and coaches will be granted one single-day admission if they register at the main ticket gate. Only one free pass per former Post 8 player or coach for the tournament, however. Names of past Post 8 players in attendance will be announced during the Pierre games each day.

Post 8 Baseball's other teams will be on the road this weekend.

The Teener A's, depleted by injuries, will tough it out with a three-day, four-game trip to Rapid City to participate in a Post 22 tournament for American Legion jayvee teams, with games set for Friday 2:30 MT against Wheatland, Wyoming; Saturday noon MT against Cheyenne, Wyoming; and Sunday 2:30 MT against Lennox and 5 MT against host Post 22 Expos.

The Teener Bees travel to Orient for a Friday doubleheader (game time pending) while the Teener 13-14s head to Aberdeen for a two-day tournament, with two games Saturday against Brookings at 4 p.m. and Aberdeen at 8 p.m., and two games Sunday against a pair of Watertown teams at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.  

Last chance for 2010 raffle tickets...

Pierre Post 8 Baseball past-president Mick Heckenlaible will draw the lucky winning tickets and start announcing the winners Saturday in the annual raffle held in conjunction with the American Legion Koester Memorial Tournament this weekend. If you still want to purchase $5 white or $2 green tickets, stop at Hyde Stadium during the games Tuesday, Wednesday or Friday evenings. Each spring the American Legion Varsity and VFW Teener players sell the tickets to help pay for the season's activities.

Roundup of recent action: Pierre Post 8 lost to Mitchell 10-6 in the first game of an American Legion baseball triangular Tuesday at Hyde Stadium. The Eights led Rapid City Post 320 in the bottom of the fourth innning 4-3 when the game was stopped because of lightning in the area.

The Teener Bees were slated for a doubleheader at Huron on Wednesday, but wet field conditions prevented the games from being played.

The Teener A's and the American Legion Eights paired up Wednesday at Hyde Stadium for a doubleheader against the Rapid City Post 22 Expos. The Expos beat the A's-Legion combined Split Squad 8-1 in the opener, while the varsity Eights down the Expos 7-0 in the nightcap. Starting pitcher Adam Deneke gave up just three hits in six innings of work and ripped a three-run homer, and Ryan Lauseng completed the shutout with a seventh inning of work for Pierre.

Almost a double no-no for Young Eights!

The Pierre Post 8 Teeners 13-14 squad defeated Mitchell 8-0 and 10-0 in stunning fashion Friday night at Hyde Stadium.

Graham Protexter went 6-for-7 at the plate, Cooper Walton whirled a no-hitter in the first seven-inning game and Connor Ryan threw a one-hitter in the mercy-shortened nightcap that was called after five innings.

Walton had 15 strikeouts while walking three and hitting one batter.

The only hit against Ryan was a lead-off triple in the sixth inning and the runner was erased on a ground ball to third baseman Alex Gray who fired home to catcher Alec Norwick. Ryan finished with six strikeouts, including the side in the final fifth inning. He walked three, two in the first inning.

Protexter was 3-for-4 in the first game and reached a fourth time on a fielding error. He was 3-for-3 in the second game with two triples.

Trey Campbell and Alex Gray each scored two runs in the first game. Campbell and Cash Anderson each had two hits in the second game, with Anderson belting a triple. Protexter scored three runs and Alec Norwick, Anderson and Gray each scored twice in the second game.

Pierre's record climbs to 15 wins and five losses with the sweep, after starting the year with a 1-3 mark.

Further details will be reported as they become available.

A's run streak to nine with sweep of Smittys

ABERDEEN -- The Pierre Post 8 Teener A's won their eighth and ninth games in a row Friday night with 18-6 and 11-0 wins over the Aberdeen Smittys.

The wind howling in from right-center field made for tricky conditions at Fossum Field. Pierre used an eight-run first inning to jump on top early and a seven-run seventh to slam shut the door in the first game.

That victory increased Pierre's conference record to four wins and two losses this season in VFW age 15-16 play. Only the first game of each doubleheader counts in the standings that determine state tournament seeding. The A's are now 19-5 this season.

Alex McGuigan was the winning pitcher in the first game and Willie Welch earned a save with two-plus innings of work. Chase Lettau had a strong game at third base and Kyle Sarringar's diving catch in right field was a key play as Pierre held Aberdeen's rally to three runs that inning.

Leading 11-6, Pierre busted the game back open in the top of the seventh. Austin Wagner delivered on a hit-and-run play to start the fire, and Eliott Coughlin's hard smash to shortstop with bases loaded trickled into the outfield for two RBI.

Pierre had seven hits but hit the ball hard throughout the game all over the field, forcing 11 Aberdeen errors in the tricky howling wind. Even so, Aberdeen's outfielders took away numerous potential extra-base hits that simply stalled against the wind. Pierre made one error as the pitchers kept the ball on the ground most of the game.

In the second game Pierre kept the offensive pressure on, scoring three runs in the first, five in the second and three more in the third. Nate Buscher pitched effectively for Pierre, allowing just three hits through four-plus innings before Willie Welch came back in to get the final two outs. For Welch it was an all-around strong night on the mound, at the plate and in the field at second base.

Eights drop a heartbreaker

WATERTOWN -- A walk, an outfield error and a two-out RBI single in the bottom of the final seventh inning gave Watertown a 4-3 win over Pierre Post 8 in American Legion baseball Friday night.

Pitcher Scott Cichos took the hard-luck loss, allowing just one earned run in his six-plus innings on the mound.

Pierre had taken a 3-2 lead with a three-run fifth inning on back-to-back doubles by Nolan Merrill and John Breckenridge, a walk by Garrett Weber, an error by Watertown pitcher Zak Vinum and a RBI single by Orin Burke.

Watertown tied the game in the bottom of the sixth at 3-3 on a double and a single for the team's only earned run off Cichos.

Watertown pulled ahead 1-0 in the first on a hit-by-pitch, an error by Cichos and a passed ball.

Pierre loaded the bases with one out in the third but couldn't score. Watertown went up 2-0 in the bottom of the third on a single, an error, a passed ball and a single.

Merrill was 3-for-3 at the plate, while Breckenridge and Burke were each 2-for-4.

Vinun went seven innings for the win. He struck out nine while allowing nine hits and two walks. Cichos struck out three while giving up seven hits and one walk. Pierre committed four errors, Watertown three.

The second game was won by Watertown 11-1 in a mercy-shortened six innings. Watertown pitcher Eric Danforth went the whole way, striking out 10 as Pierre managed just four hits, with Nolan Merrill going 3-for-3 to finish the night 6-for-6.

Watertown broke open a 4-1 game with five runs in the fifth inning off Pierre starter Ryan Lauseng and reliever Stephen Nielson. Pierre committed three errors in the game, Watertown two.

Pierre dropped back to the .500 mark at 18 wins and 18 losses with the pair of defeats.

A's roll past Watertown

The last time the Watertown Red Sox played at Hyde Stadium, they won the 2009 state Teeners title. Their return Thursday night was not so pleasant, as the Pierre Post 8 Teener A's held them scoreless in both games of a doubleheader.

The rare double shutout saw the A's win twice under the mercy rules, 10-0 in five innings in the first game and 15-0 in three innings in the second game.

Pierre's conference record rose to three wins and two losses. Only the first games of doubleheaders count in the conference standings that determine state tournament seedings. The A's look to build on that mark when they play at Aberdeen tonight (Friday).

Against Watertown, the A's had all three aspects of their game -- pitching, fielding and offense -- clicking like a train that started slowly, gained speed and became unstoppable by the end.

In the opener, birthday boy Ryan Goodwin went 3-for-3 and lined a two-out single to right field to score Pierre's first two runs. They would be the only runs the A's would need as they repeatedly shut down Watertown rallies.

Pierre turned two line-drive double plays, centerfielder Jerad Neilan's throw to catcher Eliott Coughlin nailed a runner at the plate, and pitcher Mac Mercer struck out five Watertown batters in a row.

Mercer finished with six strikeouts while allowing four hits and two walks in five innings. Alex McGuigan was another sparkplug on offense going 2-for-2 with two walks. McGuigan and Mercer each scored twice in a balanced attack that saw eight A's cross the plate. Carson Eisenbeisz was 3-for-4.

The second game saw Chase Lettau pitch three good innings. The infield preserved the shutout on an odd play in the top of the third.

With runners at first base and second base, and one out, a Watertown batter hit a groundball. The throw to second baseman Willie Welch was slightly wide, pulling him away from the bag, but he stayed with the play and relayed to first baseman Kyle Sarringar. The batter beat the throw but Sarringar turned and fired to catcher Austin Wagner, who tagged out the lead runner trying to score on a headfirst slide.

The A's had scored nine runs in the second inning to take a 12-0 lead and drain any remaining hopes of Watertown. Joe Snyder started the rally with a lead-off single and scored twice in the inning. Jared Neilan sped around the diamond for an inside-the-park homer.

Aaron O'Day had a single and three walks. O'Day, Mercer, Nate Buscher, Sarringar, Wagner, Welch and Snyder each scored two runs.

Bees win a pair from Philip

The Pierre Post 8 Teener Bees won two games Thursday against Philip at Kelley Field.

Philip is rejuvenating its dormant baseball program and is playing all of its games on the road this season while a competition-quality field is prepared.

In the opener, Pierre won 15-0 in three innings as Bo Atkins pitched well in his Teener debut. He faced just 10 batters, allowing one hit and one walk while striking out four.

Philip's pitching exhibited some difficulties with control. Amid the walks, every Pierre batter had at least one hit.

In the second game, Pierre won 14-2 in five innings. Philip got on the board with two unearned runs in the top of the first, but Pierre put three runs across in the bottom of the frame to take the lead and never gave it up.

Starting pitcher Ryan Dufour went the distance, giving up just three hits and no walks while striking out eight.

Ben Leidholt had two hits with three runs batted in and Mark Ray had two hits with two RBI to lead the Bees on offense.

Eights take down Mobridge

MOBRIDGE -- Pierre Post 8 defeated Mobridge in American Legion baseball Wednesday night 19-1 and 10-5. Pierre rose above the .500 mark to 18 wins and 16 losses, as the Eights prepare to travel to Watertown for a Friday 5:30 p.m. doubleheader and then host Spearfish at Hyde Stadium on Monday in a 5:30 p.m. doubleheader.

In the opener at Mobridge, Nolan Merrill pitched seven top-quality innings. The only run scored against him was unearned and came in the seventh after Pierre led 19-0. He struck out eight while giving up just four hits and walked none.

Meanwhile John Breckenridge moved into the No. 1 slot in the batting order that Merrill normally occupies, and he posted a great night at the plate. Breckenridge was 4-for-5 with four runs scored and two runs batted in.

Right behind in the order, Scott Cichos was 3-for-5 with three runs and three RBI, and cleanup hitter Adam Deneke was a perfect 4-for-4 with two doubles, a stolen base, three runs and five RBI. Designated hitter Jordan Smith added to the fireworks with a 2-for-3 game with three runs and one RBI out of the nine-hole of the order.

Pierre led 8-0 heading into the final inning and put 11 runs on the scoreboard.
The second game saw Merrill return to the batting order and he led the charge for Pierre as he has much of the season. He was 3-for-4 with three runs scored. Designated hitter Cichos was 1-for-2 with a run and two RBI, and Deneke was 1-for-1 with three walks, two runs and two RBI. Ryan Lauseng was 1-for- with a run and two RBI.

Pierre repeatedly took advantage of passed balls and stolen bases to score or put runners into scoring position. Eight different Pierre batters drew walks.

Starting pitcher Royce Pease was effective again but was removed in the sixth inning as a precaution after getting hit in the leg on a ball back through the middle.

Pease struck out six and walked none in five innings, giving up four hits and two runs (one earned). Breckenridge pitched the final two innings in relief.

Eights shut down Orient

Pierre Post 8 rode the pitching of starters Jordan Smith and Taylor Owens to defeat Orient 10-1 and 17-2 in American Legion baseball Tuesday evening at Hyde Stadium.

The sweep pulled the Eights back to .500 with 16 wins and 16 losses. They travel to Mobridge today (Wednesday) for a 5:30 p.m. doubleheader and face a powerful rival Friday when they take the bus to Watertown for a 5:30 p.m. doubleheader.

In the opener, Jordan Smith struck out nine Orient batters as he threw a four-hit, three-walk complete seven-inning game. The only run scored against him was unearned. Scott Cichos and Dylan  Schiltz had three runs batted in apiece.

In game two, Taylor Owens allowed just one hit in four innings while striking out three, and Pierre's offense rose to the occasion on the other side to end the game early under the mercy rule.

Orin Burke and Adam Deneke homered. Deneke added a triple and Scott Cichos nailed a double. Deneke and Cichos each scored three runs and batted in three runs. Dylan Schiltz was 3-for-3.

A's win two in Sturgis, get ready for tough 36 hours

STURGIS -- The Pierre Post 8 Teener A's defeated Sturgis 2-1 and 16-2 Tuesday night behind a combination of good defense and effective pitching.

In the opener, Ryan Goodwin pitched the complete seven innings and the infield turned four double plays behind him, including one on a dropped fly ball in the outfield with bases loaded. Mac Mercer and Jared Neilan drove in Pierre's runs on sacrifice flies.

In the nightcap Eliott Coughlin, who normally plays catcher, went all five innings as the starting pitcher. Mercer was 3-for-3 with two doubles and a walk. Pierre won under the 10-run mercy rule.

The A's host Watertown at Hyde Stadium on Thursday and travel to Aberdeen on Friday. The first games of both doubleheaders will count in the conference standings that determine the state tournament field. Both Watertown and Aberdeen are in the same North Division as Pierre.

The Thursday doubleheader against Watertown gets off to an early start at 4 p.m. rather than the typical 5:30 first pitch for weeknight doubleheaders.

Bees split at Chamberlain

CHAMBERLAIN -- We don't have the final score of the second game, but we know from Coach Sam Koenecke that his Teener Bees lost the first end of a doubleheader 11-9 Monday night against Chamberlain, then came back to win the second game 11-4 behind the pitching of Drew Leif and Ryan Dufour.

In the first game Leif was 3-for-4 at the plate with two doubles and two RBI. Dufour, Ben Leidholt and Bo Atkins each had two hits for Pierre. The Bees' undoing came because of their repeated difficulties closing out innings. Chamberlain scored a total of six unearned runs in two-out situations throughout the game.

In game two, Leif struck out 10 and scattered 10 hits and a walk through six innings of work. Dufour came on for the seventh and beaned the first batter he faced, then struck out the next three. Koenecke said the fielders played much better defense in the second game. At the plate, Jackson Bruce was 3-for-3 with three RBI, Jacob Chambers went 2-for-3 with one RBI and Leif was 3-for-6 with two doubles.

Pierre 13-14s take a pair from Huron

HURON -- Score more runs and win. That's the formula for success that the Pierre Post 8 Teeners 13-14 team used Monday night to sweep a pair of games from Huron.

The Young Eights won the first game 13-8 as the teams slapped 11 runs -- six for Pierre, five for Huron -- on the scoreboard in a wild seventh inning. Pierre won the nightcap 12-8 as pitcher Isaac Grode threw a complete seven-inning game.

Now 13-5 for the season, the Young Eights return to Hyde Stadium for a Friday doubleheader against Mitchell starting at 5 p.m.

In the opener Monday, Pierre starting pitcher Graham Protexter threw a strong six innings and led 7-3 as the teams headed into the seventh. Pierre busted loose in its half of the inning, expanding the lead to 13-3. Huron caught fire too, scoring an earned run off Protexter and four earned runs off reliever Nick Rabern who got the final two outs.

Cash Anderson was 3-for-4 with two runs scored and a stolen base. Alex Meagher was 2-for-3 with two runs, and Alex Gray was 2-for-4 with two runs and a double to lead Pierre's attack.

The second game saw Grode scatter eight hits and strike out three Huron batters. Pierre scored four runs in the second inning to stake him to a 6-2 lead, and Huron never led. Pierre put runs on the scoreboard in five of the seven innings to keep Huron at bay.

Alec Norwick was 3-for-5 with three runs scored and a double. Nick Rabern went 2-for-3 with two runs batted in. Alex Gray was 2-for-4 with a triple. 

Regional tournament draw gives Post 8 an early bye

RAPID CITY -- The West regional bracket was drawn Sunday for American Legion baseball teams. Pierre Post 8 received a bye and plays its first game at 5 p.m. MT on July 21 against the winner of the 11 a.m. opening game between Rapid City Post 22 and Spearfish. Sturgis meets Rapid City Post 320 in the day's second game at 2 p.m. The losers of the first and second games play at 8 p.m. in the double-elimination format.

Post 320 is hosting the regional. Pierre Post 8 will play only one game on the opening day. The regional runs through July 23.

The top two finishers from the regional advance to the 2010 South Dakota American Legion state tournament in Mitchell.

Eights were competitive in Fargo

FARGO, N.D. -- Pierre Post 8 finished with two wins and three losses in the Fargo invitational American Legion baseball tournament over the weekend, with three of the games ending as one-run decisions.

The Eights opened with a 12-1 loss in five innings against Detroit Lakes, MN., then held on for a 10-9 win over Fargo after leading 8-3 (see recap below on this page) on Friday.

The competition remained top-notch on Saturday when the Eights beat Winnipeg 5-0 in a rain-delayed game as Scott Cichos threw a two-hit, one-walk, eight-strikeout complete game, then fell to the Minneapolis suburban Tri-City squad 3-2 in another well-pitched game, this time by Ryan Lauseng.

Pierre lost its final game 2-1 to Mandan, N.D., on Sunday on a two-run, two-out double despite a well-pitched game by Adam Deneke. He struck out eight Mandan batters, while a trio of Chiefs pitchers struck out nine Eights.

The weekend reflected the Eights' increasing competitiveness as the season progresses. They now stand at 12 wins and 14 losses for the season heading into doubleheaders against Orient at Hyde Stadium on Tuesday at 5:30 p.m., then at Mobridge on Wednesday and at Watertown on July 2.

A's tie with Groton for tournament's top record

The Pierre Post 8 Teener A's won three games and lost one to finish tied with Groton for the best record in the annual Kris Stephens Memorial Tournament held Saturday and Sunday at Hyde Stadium. 

Winner went 2-2, while Mitchell and the Rapid City Post 320 Shooting Stars each ended at 1-3. Each team played once against the other four.

Saturday's action saw Winner defeating Mitchell 5-4; Mitchell beating Groton 14-8; Winner temporarily moving into the tournament lead  by beating the Rapid City Post 320 Shooting Stars 10-8; Groton topping Pierre 13-9 with a six-run sixth inning; and Pierre rallying in the extra eighth inning with three runs to defeat Rapid City 12-11 in the late game.

Groton busted Winner's string with a 17-5 win Sunday morning. Groton then secured at least a tie for the best record with a 6-2 shutdown of Rapid City. Rapid City got into the win column with a 6-5 victory over Mitchell. Pierre made short work of its opponents in the Sunday evening games, downing Winner 15-7 in five innings under the tourney's eight-run mercy rule and then finishing off Mitchell 14-2 in three innings under the 12-run mercy rule.

Against Groton, the A's were led by Jared Neilan whose two hits were triples and Austin Wagner, whose two hits included a triple. Mac Mercer scored three times.

Eliott Coughlin was 4-for-5 and scored three runs to power Pierre's win over Rapid City. The A's, trailing 11-9 in the bottom of the eighth, were able to get Mercer and Neilan aboard. Coughlin singled to knock in one run, and a walk by Alex McGuigan filled the bases for Willie Welch, who ripped a single through the middle for the tying and winning RBI. Neilan scored four times in the game, and Ryan Goodwin was 3-for-4 with a triple.

The A's left no doubt that Sunday was a new start for them as they powered past Winner. Seven A's scored two runs apiece: Carson Eisenbeisz, Nate Buscher, Mercer, Neilan, Wagner, Kyle Sarringar and McGuigan. Sarringar once again showed his ability to get on base with a walk, a double and a hit by pitch. Pierre broke open a 2-2 game with eight runs in the second inning. Chase Lettau and Welch combined to provide the A's with solid pitching.

The good work on the mound continued in the final game as McGuigan kept Mitchell in check. The A's led 3-0 before Mitchell finally pushed two runs around in the top of the third inning. The A's sent Mitchell's starting pitcher packing and then patiently worked over Mitchell's reliever, scoring 11 runs while making one out in the third when the game was called under the mercy rule. Lettau's two-RBI double in the second, his two-RBI single to end the game and Neilan's two triples were among the highlights.

Pierre scored 50 runs and allowed 33 in the tournament for a plus-17 margin. Groton was right behind, scoring 44 and allowing 30 for a plus-14.

Bees keep on truckin' with Gettysburg win

GETTYSBURG -- The Pierre Post 8 Teener Bees needed just eight of the scheduled nine innings to top Gettysburg 20-7 Saturday.

The Bees blew open a 6-4 game with three runs in the sixth, five in the seventh and six in the eighth, while the pitching trio of starter Sayth Jacobsen, reliever Mark Ray and reliever Drew Leif kept Gettysburg in check.

Jacobsen went five innings and allowed just four runs (three earned). Leif struck out six of the last seven Gettysburg batters.

At the plate, Ryan Dufour and Ben Leidholt each went 3-for-4 and batted in three runs apiece. A.J. Dorschner, Mark Ray, Jackson Bruce and Joel Jochim each was 2-for-4 and scored twice apiece.

Neither team had a hit until Dufour's single to score Ray in the fourth inning. The Bees are now 11-4 on the season.

Varsity Eights fall, get back up in Fargo first day

FARGO, N.D. -- Detroit Lakes whipped Pierre Post 8 in American Legion baseball 12-1 Friday morning in the first day of the annual Fargo invitational tournament. But the Eights dusted themselves off and made the most of their opportunities in their second game, topping Fargo 10-9 as Nolan Merrill led the way at the plate and on the mound.

Detroit Lakes blew open a 1-1 game with seven runs in the fourth inning, suddenly solving Pierre starting pitcher Royce Pease who had been effective to that point. Reliever Jordan Smith came in trailing 6-1 with bases loaded and one out. He gave up a single to the first batter he faced, then struck out the next two.

Detroit Lakes strung together four hits and two walks to score four more runs in the fifth and win on the mercy rule.

Pierre's batters managed just three hits off Detroit Lakes starter Ben Lindquist, who struck out five while walking one.

Two of Pierre's hits came from Adam Deneke, who tripled and had the team's only RBI to score Garrett Weber in the bottom of the first to give Pierre a 1-0 lead. Pierre started to rally in the bottom of the fourth with Deneke's single but he was picked off by Lindquist.

In the second game, Pierre took advantage of five Fargo errors to pull out front 8-3 and hang on to win 10-9.

Pierre scored a run in the first inning without a hit as Fargo committed two errors. Merrill, batting in the No. 1 slot in the order, was hit by a pitch and worked his way around, scoring on a ball hit to shortstop by Weber that was booted.

The Eights posted four runs in the third inning on three hits and two errors. Brandon Heckenlaible started the rally with a single, Merrill doubled, Scott Cichos struck out but reached first base safely as the third strike got away from the catcher, Weber tagged a two-RBI double and Deneke's ball to shortstop was misplayed.

Fargo came up with two runs off Pierre starting pitcher Merrill in the bottom of the second. Pierre rallied back in the third as Taylor Owens and Heckenlaible led off with singles, then moved to second and third on Taylor Wolf's sacrifice, and Merrill drove in Owens with a single. Cichos and Weber then delivered consecutive two-out RBI singles to put Pierre up 8-2.

A lead-off triple for Fargo in the bottom of the third brought the score to 8-3. The combination of a John Breckenridge single and a Merrill RBI double in the fifth and Deneke's lead-off home run in the sixth took Pierre's lead out to seven runs.

The Eights would need every one of those runs, as Merrill finally tired in the sixth. After a walk, a double and a home run by Fargo, he was relieved by Owens. Fargo wound up scoring four runs in the inning.

The seventh was a doozy. With two outs, Fargo catcher Matt Fiechtner belted his second home run of the game to pull his team within 10-9 with two outs. An error at shortstop put the tying run on base, but Owens got the final batter on a nice catch by shortstop Wolf to end the game.

Merrill was 4-for-4 with three runs scored and two RBI. Weber was 2-for-4 with one run and three RBI. Fargo's Fiechtner finished 3-for-4 with three runs and five RBI.

Young Eights see win string snapped at 10

ABERDEEN -- The Pierre Post 8 Teeners 13-14 squad defeated Aberdeen 16-0 in four innings Thursday to extend the Young Eights' winning streak to 10 games. Unfortunately they didn't find the going so easy in the doubleheader's second game, as their bats and gloves turned to ice, and Aberdeen won 6-2.

The split puts Pierre's record at 11 wins and five losses for the season. The team is back on the road Monday evening for a 5:30 doubleheader in Huron.

Against Aberdeen, starting pitcher Cooper Walton continued his dominance in the first game as he improved his personal record to 3-0 this season. He struck out six while giving up three hits in four innings.

He had plenty of offensive support. Alex Meagher and Alex Gray each was 3-for-3 at the plate, with Meagher scoring three runs and Gray banging a triple. Alec Norwick was 2-for-3 with three runs scored.

The second game saw some solid pitching by starter Cash Anderson and reliever Justin Berheim get wasted. They allowed just three earned runs, but the defense committed five errors. Worse, the Pierre batters managed just five hits.

Anderson gave up just six hits in five innings, and Pierre trailed 3-2 as he left the game. Pierre couldn't score again, and two of the three runs scored against Berheim in the sixth inning were unearned.

Anderson led his team at the plate, going 2-for-3 with a double and a triple. Graham Protexter ripped a double. Alex Gray was 2-for-4. No other Pierre batter had a hit.

Bees ride the brooms over Huron

The Pierre Post 8 Bees swept Huron in a VFW Teener baseball doubleheader Thursday evening at Hyde Stadium 19-9 and 9-4. The Bees climbed to 10 wins and four losses on the season.

In the opener Pierre went ahead 9-0 in the first inning and scored six runs in the fifth to win on the 10-run mercy rule. Jackson Bruce was the winning pitcher.

Three Bees scored three runs apiece -- Mark Ray, Drew Leif and Jacob Chambers -- as the entire lineup used walks to put runners aboard and key hits to drive them home. Bruce's triple and Ray's single pushed in four runs in the first, and both scored. Cody Honeywell singled, and A.J. Dorschner and Ryan Dufour belted doubles to account for five RBI in the big final rally.

The nightcap featured Ryan Dufour in the role of starting pitcher for the first time this season, and he put together a rock-solid five innings. He struck out eight Huron batters while walking two and scattering four hits. He left leading 9-2 and was the winning pitcher.

Pierre erupted for seven runs in the second inning. Joel Jochim set the tone when he opened the frame with a single, and he delivered a RBI single with two outs when he came up again the same inning.

Jochim, Dufour and Ben Leidholt each went 3-for-4 to keep the pressure on Huron's defense throughout the game.

Teener Bees rock in Mobridge

MOBRIDGE -- The Pierre Post 8 Bees went into Mobridge on a roll and kept rolling with a pair of wins Tuesday in VFW Teener baseball.

Coach Sam Koenecke's squad enters today's 5:30 p.m. doubleheader at Hyde Stadium against Huron with a record of eight wins and four losses. 

Against Mobridge, the Bees won the opener 21-9, scoring a run in the sixth and nine runs in the seventh to turn back a determined Mobridge team. In the second game, the Bees burst ahead with seven runs in the third inning and nine runs in the fourth to win 20-4 in a mercy-shortened contest.

The first game saw Pierre jump to an early lead scoring three in the first inning. Mobridge battled back and scored one in the bottom half. Pierre then scored two in the second with Sayth Jacobsen shooting a single through the left side, Jacobsen then stole second and Jacob Chambers came through with a RBI single.

Pierre plated four in the third. Mark Ray led off with a triple to the gap followed by a Ryan Dufour RBI single. Ben Ledholt then got hit by a pitch, and Drew Leif came up big with a two-run single. After a couple more walks and a fielder’s choice, Chambers came up again and roped a single to left field scoring two.

Through five innings Pierre was up 12-6 but a couple blunders in the field came back to hurt Pierre and Mobridge made it a 12-9 game. Pierre then came back and scored one in the sixth and nine in the sevent to put Mobridge away.

Pierre had 20 hits with every starter getting at least one. A.J. Dorschner was 3-for-6, Dufour and Ray were each 3-for-5 with a pair of RBI, Ray had two triples. Leif also had a three-hit game with 4 RBI. Chambers and Jacobsen also each had a three hit game, with Jacobsen hitting an inside the park home run, a double. Pierre stole eight bases in the game.
Jacobsen started on the hill for Pierre and went 4 1/3 innings allowing three hits and six earned runs while striking out three. He walked four and hit three batters with pitchers. Pierre reliever Cody Honeywell. Honeywell threw 2 2/3 innings only allowing two hits and three unearned runs. He struck out three and walked two.

In game two Pierre did not slow down. The Bees scored two in the first with a walk to A.J. Dorschner. He and Mark Ray both came around to score on Mobridge passed balls.

Ben Leidholt got the start on the mound for Pierre and he struck out the side in the first inning.

In the third inning Pierre broke open the game, plating 7 runs. The rally began with an Ian Coughlin walk. Five singles in a row pushed Mobridge to swap out pitchers but Pierre kept pushing runs across.

Mobridge then plated 4 runs in the third inning as catcher Taylor Dowling got some experience behind the plate. Pierre roared right back to score nine runs in the fourth.

Mark Ray continued to show some thunder at the plate. Ray, Ryan Dufour, Leidholt, and Jackson Bruce all having two hits. Drew Leif had another big game going 3-4 with 3 RBI, and Dowling delivered his first hit as a Teener.

Leidholt survived one shaky inning but pitched effectively overall. He went four innings, giving up four unearned runs. He walked six and struck out six as he won his second game of the season.

East shuts down A's in Sioux Falls

SIOUX FALLS -- Pierre scored two runs in the top of the first inning but didn't score again as Sioux Falls East defeated the A's 7-2 Wednesday night in VFW Teener 15-16 baseball.

The loss dropped the A's to a 2-2 conference record. Pierre came back with a furious nine-run rally to win the nightcap 14-10. Only the first games of the doubleheaders count in the conference standings.

The A's lost two pitchers to arm problems indefinitely. Starter Kyle Sarringar had to leave the first game after two innings and was relieved by Willie Welch. Closer Jerad Erickson left the second game after three batters in the seventh inning.

Alex McGuigan started on the mound in the second game, He was replaced by Nate Buscher, followed by Welch, Erickson and Chase Lettau who got the game's final out.

Buscher was credited with the win in the game. Pierre trailed 6-3 after five innings but roared back to lead 12-6 in the top of the sixth. Buscher and Joe Snyder each had two hits and Austin Wagner snapped a key hit up the middle in the big rally.

East brought four runs across in the bottom of the sixth to tighten the score to 12-10. Back to back doubles by Mac Mercer and Jerad Neilan gave Pierre two insurance runs. Erickson took down the first two batters he faced in the bottom of the seventh, then walked the next batter as his throws became erratic. He was removed from the game, and Lettau eventually got the final out without East scoring.

The team's return was delayed more than an hour when the team bus suffered a flat tire while in Sioux Falls.

  A's take down Huron

The Pierre Post 8 Teener A's made the most of their early scoring opportunities and shut down a seventh-inning rally on a big play by Kyle Sarringar and Eliott Coughlin to defeat Huron 6-4 in a VFW 15-16 conference battle Tuesday at Hyde Stadium.

The A's are now 2-1 in conference play after previously beating Brookings and falling to Sioux Falls West. The A's now hit the road to meet Sioux Falls East in another conference matchup on Wednesday evening.

Against Huron, Pierre scored three runs in the first inning on a RBI double down the right field line by Mac Mercer to plate Carson Eisenbeisz and a two-RBI infield out on a high chopper by Coughlin to score Mercer and Jared Neilan.

In the second inning, Pierre expanded its lead to 4-0. Eisenbeisz hit a two-out RBI single to score Sarringar, who had reached on a hit-by-pitch and advanced on a wild pitch and a passed ball. Neilan tripled in the third and eventually scored to run the score to 5-0.

Huron pulled within 5-2 in the fifth on back-to-back hits and an infield error, all with two outs.

Coughlin got aboard with a single to lead off the sixth. He eventually scored from third base when Joe Snyder lifted a deep sacrifice fly to left field on a 1-2 count with one out.

Huron mounted a rally in the seventh with three consecutive doubles against a moderate-depth outfield. The first two batters scored. An infield hit became the game's final turning point, as first baseman Sarringar took the throw and fired home to catcher Coughlin to nail a runner trying to score on a delay play from third.

Mercer was the winning pitcher. He went the full seven innings, scattering 10 hits while walking one, hitting one batter and striking out five.

Pierre managed just five hits, but strung together two walks, three hits-by-pitch and two Huron errors. Neilan was the only Pierre batter with two hits.

In the night's second game, Pierre was leading 7-3 in the third inning when lightning forced the teams into the dugouts. After about a 15-minute wait, the remainder of the game was canceled. Rain poured down about an hour later.

While only the first game of conference doubleheaders count in the league standings, the A's looked ready to battle for the sweep in game two.

Pierre jumped ahead 4-0, with three of the runs scoring in an at-bat by Nate Buscher. Jared Erickson and Aaron O'Day scored on passed balls while he was at the plate, then he lashed a RBI double to bring Mac Mercer home and finish clearing the once-loaded bases. Buscher later scored on a RBI single by Carson Eisenbeisz.

Huron worked three runs off Pierre pitcher Chase Lettau in the second, but his offense came right back to his aid. Erickson tripled, O'Day walked and Mercer's smash to short was mishandled, allowing two runs to score and putting him aboard. Mercer later scored.

Bees create a buzz in Winner

WINNER -- The Pierre Post 8 Teener Bees won two of three games and finished in third place in the Winner Invitational tournament last weekend.

The Bees stung Colome hard in the Friday opener, winning 18-3 in four innings. Colome's difficulty finding the strike zone led to Pierre batters taking 11 walks and scoring 12 runs in the first inning. Drew Leif was the winning pitcher, striking out eight. Leif and Ben Leidholt each had two hits and two runs batted in. Joel Jochim had two hits and swiped two bags.

Pierre tangled with Winner in the Saturday night showdown, giving up seven runs early and losing 11-5 in a game called on time. Sayth Jacobsen and Jacob Chambers led Pierre at the plate with two hits each. The trio of Jackson Bruce, Mark Ray and Cody Honeywell handled the pitching for Pierre.

The Bees showed their resiliency Sunday by bouncing back for a 8-7 win with a run in the final inning to defeat Burke. Jacob Chambers' triple drove in three of Pierre's runs. Mark Ray used his speed to leg out a double and a triple, while Drew Leif, Ben Leidholt and Sayth Jacobsen had two hits apiece.

Coach Sam Koenecke turned to Ryan Dufour to pitch the crucial two-plus innings, and Dufour struck out five batters without allowing a Burke run. Dufour relieved Leif, who started the Sunday game on one day of rest after throwing four innings against Colome Friday.

The Bees climbed to six wins and four losses. They are on the road again today (Tuesday) at Mobridge.

Eights win one, lose one against Mitchell

MITCHELL -- Scott Cichos pitched well and the defense stood tall in the crucial late innings as Pierre Post 8 defeated Mitchell 9-4 in the first game of an American Legion doubleheader Monday evening. Mitchell fought back to take the second game 12-11.

In the opener, Pierre plated five runs in the third inning, combining a hit-by-pitch, two Mitchell errors, a triple by Adam Deneke, a single by Garrett Wolf, a double by Orin Burke and a double by Royce Pease to take a 6-2 lead.

Cichos allowed four runs (three earned) in six innings of work on the mound. He gave up eight hits and three bases on balls while striking out six. Deneke worked a scoreless seventh inning, striking out one and walking one.

Weber, batting in the cleanup spot, delivered repeatedly, as he was 3-for-3 with two runs scored and two runs batted in. Burke, hitting right behind him, was 2-for-3 with a run and one RBI. Pease was 1-for 3 with three RBI. Deneke was 1-for-3 with a run and two RBI. Lead-off man Nolan Merrill scored twice without a hit.

The second game was tied 11-11 after a regulation seven innings. Pierre scored nine runs in the top of the seventh to pull ahead 11-9, then saw Mitchell rally to tie the score with two runs in the bottom of the seventh.

Each team had plenty of chances to score even more runs, as each left 11 runners on base.

Pierre fell behind 5-0 early as Mitchell worked over Eights lefty Ryan Lauseng and catcher Chancy Riggle, combining singles and stolen bases. Mitchell led 9-2 after five innings.

Pierre's big rally came after a series of Mitchell lineup changes to start the seventh inning. Three Pierre batters were hit by pitches, several more walked, Mitchell committed four errors, and Pierre had just two hits on RBI singles  by Brandon Heckenlaible and Scott Cichos. Pierre left the bases loaded.

Mitchell tied the game in the bottom of the seventh. Pierre got one runner aboard in the extra frame when Tanner Wolf walked. Mitchell scored the decisive run without putting the ball in play against Pierre's battery of pitcher Adam Deneke, pitching for the second time that night, and catcher Garrett Weber. The first batter was hit by a pitch, the second batter walked, and both advanced on a passed ball. The third batter was intentionally walked to load the bases. Another loose pitch allowed the run to score.

PIerre stands at 12 wins and 13 losses after the split.

Post 8 rebounds to take two from Orient

FAULKTON -- Pierre Post 8 rallied from an eight-run deficit to defeat Orient 12-10 in American Legion baseball Sunday afternoon. The Eights then took the second game of the doubleheader 13-0 in five innings as Jordan Smith pitched a four-hit shutout.

Smith struck out six while walking none.

Pierre climbed to 11 wins and 12 losses on the season with the sweep. The Eights hit the road today (Monday) for a 5 p.m. doubleheader against Mitchell in the two clubs' first meeting of the 2010 season.

In the first game on Sunday, Orient went ahead 8-0 with a seven-run second inning off starting pitcher John Breckenridge. Pierre fought back with four runs in the third and six runs in the fourth to pull ahead.

Relief pitcher Taylor Owens picked up the victory as he threw the final five innings and gave up just two unearned runs in the bottom of the seventh. Owens allowed three hits and one walk while striking out four. Two of those hits came from the first batters he faced and neither scored, as Owens and Pierre's defense stiffened to keep Orient off the scoreboard long enough to secure the win.

Nolan Merrill's leadership in the lead-off spot of the batting order proved important once again. Merrill was 3-for-4 with two runs scored and three runs batted in. He tripled and belted a three-run homer.

Orin Burke swung a big bat again too. Batting as the designated hitter, the determined Burke was 3-for-3 with three runs scored and four RBI. He tripled, homered and stole a base.

Scott Cichos and Garrett Weber each scored two runs and Brandon Heckenlaible had three RBI.

Burke's lead-off homer in the sixth proved to be the winning run, and good baserunning by Cichos and Burke produced the insurance run in the seventh.

Cichos was hit-by-pitch, then stole second base and advanced to third on a passed ball. Burke walked with one out and stole second, taking off the force for a possible double play. Heckenlaible hit into an RBI fielder's choice that plated Cichos.

In the nightcap, every Pierre batter notched at least one hit. The big blows came on Adam Deneke's home run in the seven-run fifth inning and doubles from Nolan Merrill, Orin Burke, Taylor Owens and DH Dylan Schiltz.

Consecutive doubles by Burke and Owens in the second inning gave Pierre the only run it would need, as Smith repeatedly threw strike-outs in key situations to extinguish Orient's rallies.

Merrill scored two runs and had three RBI, while Burke, Deneke and Royce Pease each had two hits in the victory. Burke scored three runs while Owens scored twice and knocked in two runs.

Teener 13-14s sweep Groton, take streak to nine

The Pierre Post 8 Teeners 13-14 squad made it nine wins in a row with a doubleheader sweep of Groton at Hyde Stadium on Sunday afternoon. The Young Eights took both games under the 10-run mercy rule.

Graham Protexter held Groton to one hit as the Young Eights won 11-0 in five innings in the first game. He walked one batter while striking out five. Groton's only hit came with two outs in the fifth. Protexter helped his cause going 2-for-3 at the plate with two runs scored.

Pierre put six runs on the scoreboard in the fourth inning, with two-run triples from Cooper Walton and Shay Reinke powering the big rally. Blake Dean scored three runs in the game, going 1-for-1 with two walks.

Groton pushed back hard in the second game against Pierre starting pitcher Austin Christopherson, but Pierre's batters were up to the challenge as they won 18-8. He threw four innings and left with a 14-6 lead to get the win. Blake Dean and Alec Norwick combined to throw the final two innings.

Cash Anderson scored four runs for Pierre. He was 4-for-4 with two walks, and his two-RBI single in the bottom of the sixth drove in the decisive runs. Alex Gray scored three times and went 3-for-4 with a walk. Cooper Walton scored three runs. Trey Campbell and Justin Berheim each was 3-for-3 with a walk.

Teener 13-14s run winning streak to seven

The Pierre Post 8 Teeners 13-14 team won their sixth and seventh games in a row, sweeping Spearfish in a Thursday doubleheader at Kelley Field.

The Young Eights won the opener 10-0 in five innings, as Cooper Walton pitched the shutout. They took the second game 7-3 behind the pitching of Isaac Grode.

Split Squad topples Spearfish

The Pierre Post 8 Split Squad of Teener A's and some American Legion varsity players swept Spearfish this afternoon 11-3 and 14-11 in a doubleheader at Hyde Stadium.

Pierre put six runs on the board in the first inning of the opener and added three more in the fourth and two more in the fifth, as Spearfish struggled on the mound and with the gloves. Jared Neilan was the winning pitcher. Jared Erickson scored three times, while Mac Mercer and Neilan each scored twice.

Pierre raced ahead 7-0 in first inning of the second game and never trailed, as the teams kept the pressure on each other. Nate Buscher hit two doubles and a single, while Ryan Goodwin had one double and two singles, to lead Pierre's offense. Buscher and Goodwin each scored three runs. Joe Snyder was 2-for-3 with five RBI including a bases-loaded triple. Jordan Smith and Kyle Sarringar each scored two runs.

A trio of Pierre pitchers -- Jared Erickson, Buscher and Willie Welch -- split the mound duties almost evenly. Spearfish pulled within 12-11 in the top of the sixth inning but Smith and Goodwin scored on a Snyder sacrifice fly and a Welch single in the bottom half to counter.

Teeners 13-14 squad gives Mitchell the broom

MITCHELL -- The Pierre Post 8 Teeners 13-14 team made the most of their bus ride Wednesday, toppling Mitchell 10-5 and 19-3. The Young Eights have now won five games in a row and raised their season mark to six wins and four losses.

Starting pitcher Cash Anderson went four innings for Pierre in the first game against Mitchell. He got the win, allowing four earned runs on six hits while striking out five. Trey Campbell pitched the fifth inning, striking out one while giving up one earned run on one hit. The game was called after five innings because of a time limit.

Alec Norwick and Cooper Walton each went 2-for-3 at the plate and each belted two doubles, with Norwick driving in two runs. Alex Meagher was 2-for-2 with two RBI.

Connor Ryan was the starting and winning pitcher in the second game. He threw four innings, allowing three earned runs on four hits while striking out three.

Pierre's bats smacked hard in the contest. Alec Norwick was 2-for-3 with a double and a triple and five RBI. Alex Gray went 3-for-4 with a triple and three RBI. Cooper Walton was 2-for-3 with a triple and two RBI. Graham Protexter was 2-for-4 with three RBI.

The Young Eights host Spearfish this afternoon (Thursday) in a 4 p.m. doubleheader at Kelley Field. The two squads have been tough rivals in recent seasons.

Eights searching for winning track

Pierre Post 8 split a doubleheader against a thin roster of Sturgis players Wednesday night at Hyde Stadium in American Legion baseball. The Eights romped to an 11-1 win in the opener as Nolan Merrill tripled, Orin Burke lined an inside-the-park home run and Tanner Wolf jacked a home run over the 380 corner in left center. Sturgis, playing with a variety of reserves because of football camp this week, took the second game 6-4. Royce Pease was the winning pitcher for Pierre in the opener. Stephen Nielson took the loss for Pierre in game two.

The split came on the heels of Post 8's two defeats in Rapid City against Post 320 on Tuesday night 6-1 and 8-1. The varsity Eights' season record now stands at nine wins and 12 losses.

Bruce throws no-hitter as Bees sweep Gettysburg

The Pierre Teener Bees took two games from Gettysburg in a doubleheader Tuesday night at Hyde Stadium, as Jackson Bruce came within one pitch of a perfect seven-inning game.

Bruce proved the power of throwing strikes as he held Gettysburg to no hits while striking out 11 in Pierre's 8-0 win. Gettysburg's only baserunner came on a walk on a 3-2 count with one out in the sixth inning. His fielders committed no errors as they made nine put-outs on line drives and fly balls. There was only one groundball out.

Bruce helped himself with an RBI triple in the first inning and an RBI double in the fifth. Other big blows came on Drew Leif's two-run double in the second and Ryan Dufour's RBI double in the sixth.

In the first game, Pierre fell behind 2-0 but knitted together back-to-back six-run innings to defeat Gettysburg 12-2 in a mercy-rule five-inning game.

Pierre starting pitcher Ben Leidholt battled hard for five innings to get the win. He allowed two runs (one unearned) on one hit while walking seven, hitting one batter and striking out five.

The Bees struggled against a salty Gettysburg squad, but finally got on the scoreboard as they scored six runs in the fourth inning on a combination of walks, passed balls, wild pitches and one error. Pierre didn't get a hit in the inning and put only two balls in play, one for the third out.

The Bees' bats started to show life in the fifth inning, as they scored six more runs on four hits and a variety of walks and defensive miscues. Ryan Dufour struck the big blow with a two-out double that pushed home Drew Leif with the decisive run under the mercy rule.

A.J. Dorschner was 2-for-3 with a walk to lead Pierre's batters.

Bruce's no-hitter was the second for the Bees this season. Leif threw a no-hitter at Platte.

Split Squad goes 3-1 in Rapid City

The Pierre Teener A's joined forces with some of the Post 8 American Legion varsity players for a six-game tournament in Rapid City this weekend at the home stadium of Post 320. Pierre posted three wins and one defeat. The third and final round set for today (Sunday) was cancelled because of wet conditions.

Pierre split a pair of  games Friday afternoon, defeating Fort Morgan, Colorado, No. 2 with a five runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to win 7-6 on a wild pitch, then lost to Fort Morgan No. 1 in the bottom of the seventh inning 5-4 on a wild pitch.

On Saturday Pierre tamed Belle Fourche 21-2 in five innings and shut-out Rapid City 320's Rising Stars squad 8-0 in five innings.

On the mound Kyle Sarringar got the win in relief against Fort Morgan No. 2, Mac Mercer took the seven-inning loss against Fort Morgan No. 1, Alex McGuigan threw a gem past Belle Fourche and the duo of Jordan Smith and John Breckenridge blanked the Rising Stars. Among the big hitters through the first four games were Jared Neilan and Chase Lettau.

Bees power-up on Orient

The Teener Bees defeated Orient 12-1 in six innings Sunday afternoon at Hyde Stadium. Starting pitcher Drew Leif and the Bees' defense combined to choke several Orient rallies, while the Pierre batters eventually got their timing down and erupted for five runs in the second inning and five runs in the sixth. Third baseman Ryan Dufour scored two runs and was 3-for-3 with a walk and a two-run double that banged off the Perkins sign in left field. Dufour and Ben Leidholt hit back-to back doubles to end the game on the10-run mercy rule. Leif scored three runs, Cody Honeywell scored two runs and was 2-for-3, and Joel Jochim scored two runs. Start of the second game was delayed by a thick steady drizzle.

Young Eights make most of Watertown trip

The Teeners 13-14 squad did plenty of damage in a pair of weekend doubleheaders at Watertown. The Young Eights lost their first game 8-6 to Watertown on Saturday, then roared back for a 14-2 win in five innings to even the series. Pierre took out Milbank 27-1 on Sunday, then took the rubber match with Watertown 5-4.

The first game see-sawed as Pierre scored three runs in the top of the sixth inning to take a 6-5 lead. Watertown rallied in the bottom of the frame to pull ahead 8-6. Pierre loaded the bases in the seventh but couldn't score.

Coach Mike Fisher used a trio of pitchers. Starter Isaac Grode was relieved by Shay Reinke and Alex Gray, with Gray taking the loss. Leading Pierre at the plate were Justin Berheim (3-4 with a double), Connor Ryan (2-2 with two sacrifice bunts) and Blake Dean (2-4).

Cooper Walton pitched the second game for Pierre. He struck out 10 Watertown batters in five innings, allowing three hits and one earned run. Pierre batters meanwhile took advantage of eight walks from Watertown and rolled to the big win, led by Cash Anderson (3-4), Trey Campbell (3-4) and Alex Gray (2-4).

Against Milbank, Pierre overmatched its opponent with nine runs in the second inning and 18 runs in the fourth. Austin Christopherson pitched the four innings for Pierre, striking out 10 while giving up one hit and one earned run. Graham Protexter (4-5), Trey Campbell (3-4) and Isaac Grode (3-4) paced Pierre's offense. At one point the Young Eights chained together 11 consecutive hits.

The final game saw Watertown roll ahead 3-0 through three innings, then Pierre started putting numbers other than zeros on the scoreboard. With the score at 4-1 entering the fifth, Pierre scored once in the fifth, twice in the sixth and once in the seventh while blanking Watertown the rest of the way.

Graham Protexter threw the first three frames for Pierre, with only one earned run. Justin Berheim threw the next three, allowing just one run, and Alex Gray got the save with a hitless seventh inning. The come-from-behind victory made Berheim the winning pitcher.

Pierre had just six hits in the 5-4 win, with the bottom third of the lineup producing five of those hits. Berheim and Connor Ryan were 2-for-3. Cash Anderson was 1-for-3 and drove in the winning run in the seventh with a sacrifice fly.

Pierre now stands at four wins and four losses for the season. Pierre travels to Mitchell on Wednesday for a 4 p.m. doubleheader.

Eights win a pair on the road in Winner

Garrett Weber and Dylan Schiltz homered, while Royce Pease and Jordan Smith led the way on the mound, as Pierre Post 8 took a doubleheader at Winner 18-2 and 9-7 on Wednesday evening.

The Eights improved their season record to eight wins and eight losses.

Pease threw a six-inning complete game for the victory in the mercy-shortened first contest, while Smith posted his first Legion win with a five-inning outing in the nightcap.

Weber, John Breckenridge and Brandon Heckenlaible each had two hits and three runs batted in, while Jordan Drapeaux was 3-for-5, to lead the Eights' offense in the first game. Breckenridge, Heckenlaible and Drapeaux each scored three runs.

The score was 6-2 Pierre through four innings. The Eights erupted for five runs in the fifth and seven runs in the sixth. Pease allowed just three hits and one walk while striking out six Winner-Colome batters.

Schiltz was 2-for-3 with three RBI and two runs scored in the second game. Ryan Lauseng and Tanner Wolf each drove in two runs apiece. Scott Cichos was 2-for-3 and scored twice. Weber pitched the final two innings of the game in relief of Smith.

Smith gave up just two runs -- neither earned -- in his five frames of work. He allowed a mere four hits and walked none while striking out four.

Central continues dominance of Bees

Sioux Falls Central had the Pierre Teener Bees' number again Wednesday afternoon. Central stung the Bees twice, winning both ends of a doubleheader at Hyde Stadium by the identical scores of 15-4 and each time in six innings under the 10-run rule.

The sweep left the Bees at one win and three losses for the season. In the opening game Wednesday, Jacob Chambers scored two of Pierre's runs, while Jack Bruce and A.J. Dorschner had two hits apiece. Starting pitcher Bo Atkins took the loss on the mound.

The second game saw Pierre rally with four runs in the fourth inning. Sayth Jacobsen suffered the pitching loss.

Eights take a pair from Mobridge

The Pierre Post 8 Varsity swept visiting Mobridge 14-4 and 3-2 on Tuesday evening at Hyde Stadium in American Legion baseball.

Pierre ten-runned Mobridge in six innings after turning back a Mobridge rally in the top of the fourth inning that made the score 5-4.

Starting pitcher Taylor Owens threw five innings for the victory, with John Breckenridge handling the mound duties in the sixth. Owens scattered nine hits and two walks with six strikeouts, while Breckenridge gave up one hit, one walk and no runs while striking out two.

After Mobridge scored three runs in the top of the fourth, Pierre's batters unloaded for five runs in the bottom of the same frame. The big blow was a triple by Scott Cichos as Pierre did its damage with a combination of two hits, one hit-by-pitch, two walks and an error.

Cichos and Tanner Wolf led Pierre at the plate with two hits apiece in the game.

The nightcap was a 2-2 tie heading into the bottom of the seventh inning. Garrett Weber drew a walk and scored the winning run on a misplayed ground ball hit by Orin Burke.

Starting pitcher Adam Deneke threw a complete seven-inning game in a duel with Mobridge's Tim Hathaway who also went seven innings.

Deneke struck out 15 Mobridge batters while giving up just two hits, two walks and one earned run. Hathaway was effective in letting his fielders do the work, giving up three hits and two walks while striking out none and allowing one earned run.

Stephen Nielson was 2-for-2, with a run scored on a Breckenridge sacrifice fly to center field to give Pierre a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the third inning. Mobridge tied the score in the top of the fourth, then Pierre came back to take a 2-1 lead in the bottom half, as Deneke was hit by a pitch, advanced to third on an error by Hathaway and scored on a sacrifice fly by Kris Hewlett.

The sweep gives the Eights a season record of six wins and eight losses as they head to Winner today (Wednesday) for a 5:30 doubleheader. Pierre swept Winner at Hyde Stadium in a June 2 doubleheader.

Groton cancels Teener 13-14 games

Wet weather led Groton to call off its scheduled doubleheader with the Pierre Teener 13-14 squad Tuesday. No make-up date has been announced. 

Split Squad duo holds Sturgis hitless

Pierre's combined Split Squad of Teener A's and American Legion Varsity players defeated Sturgis 11-1 in a mercy-shortened five innings in the first game of a doubleheader Monday evening at Hyde Stadium. Stephen Nielson and Jordan Smith posted a combined no-hitter, with the only run unearned. Pierre led 6-1 and was batting in the second inning of the second game when the contest was halted because of rain. 

13-14 Teeners win first game of 2010 season

The Pierre Post 8 Teeners 13-14 squad started their home schedule in winning fashion Sunday evening, topping Aberdeen 12-9 at Hyde Stadium.

Aberdeen bounced back in the second game of the doubleheader, scoring four times in the first inning and never relinquishing the lead en route to a 13-7 victory.

The split leaves Pierre with a record of one win and three losses so far in the 2010 season.

The first game Sunday bounced back and forth through five innings. Pierre broke a 9-9 tie in the bottom of the fifth when Alec Norwick reached base on an error that eventually led to the winning run crossing the plate.

Norwick, who was playing catcher, and his courtesy runner substitute Shay Reinke together scored three runs for Pierre in the game. Cash Anderson drove in three runs and Austin Christopherson batted in two.

Pierre had plated five runs in the second as Connor Ryan, Christopherson, Norwick, Anderson and Alex Gray scored. Anderson's triple and Isaac Grode's double were the big blows in the rally.

Trey Campbell was the winning pitcher in relief, while Gray earned the save. as Aberdeen was held scoreless in the sixth and seventh innings.

The second game saw Pierre never quite get on track. Pierre failed to score in the final three frames of the seven-inning contest. Norwick scored three times for Pierre, as he went 3-for-4 with a double and a triple and also drew a walk. Campbell and Blake Dean were 2-for-4.

The Eights with an additional day of rest return to action Tuesday with a triangular at Hyde hosting Mitchell at 3 p.m. and Rapid City Post 320 at 7:30 p.m.

The contests will be a big test for Post 8. The team split against Mitchell in a doubleheader there last month and has lost three times against 320's varsity this season.

Meanwhile the Teener A's and the Teener 13-14s are scheduled to travel to Spearfish for games Tuesday, and the Teener Bees are slated for a doubleheader in Huron on Wednesday.

Dakotamart wants to keep helping Post 8 Baseball

Save your Dakotamart receipts, add up the total and put them in an envelope with the total written on it. Then deliver them to the Pierre American Legion Post or drop them off at a home game this summer, or contact Post 8's baseball representative, Jim Goodman. Dakotamart makes regular contributions to Post 8 Baseball based on the amounts of Dakotamart receipts we return to the store. It's one of the easiest ways you can help us keep those contributions coming in.

 Family Passes Available for 2010 Season!

The price for the 2010 season pass is $50. That covers adults in your household. High school students and children receive free admission. The 2010 pass is for all regular-season games but doesn't cover our three local American Legion and Teeners tournaments.

We have three dozen home double-headers and triangulars scheduled for this summer at Hyde Stadium for our American Legion Varsity, Split Squad, Teener A's, Teener Bees and Teener 13-14 squads. That's an average of a home doubleheader every other day from Memorial Day through early August.

Daily admission for all home dates this season is $5 for adults.

We'll also be hosting our Koester, Stephens and Kirley tournaments. See the dates and times for the local tournaments under each squad's Schedule tab.

Post 8 Baseball enjoys strong community support and your help is appreciated. Help us build our season-pass list to 1,000 committed fans!

Apparel this season can be purchased directly at All-Around Graphix on North Euclid Avenue in Pierre, including some new looks in women's tees and player wind shirts. We have fitted-size Post 8 baseball caps ($20) at Hyde Stadium, as well as a limited line of tee shirts, polo shirts and sweat shirts. And the popular Post 8 vehicle-window decals ($5) are available at Hyde Stadium too.

2009 Recap: The Teener Bees posted the best post-season record of the four teams in the Post 8 system. The Bees took third place with two wins and two losses in the six-team South Dakota VFW Teener AA Minors state tournament (age 15-16) at Yankton.

The Teener A's hosted the South Dakota VFW Teener AA Majors state tournament (age 15-16) at Hyde Stadium. The A's finished the tournament with one win and two losses.

The American Legion varsity Eights won their biggest game of the year in the regional tournament at Spearfish, defeating Rapid City Post 320 in the opener. But the Eights lost their next two games against Spearfish and 320, costing them a berth in the American Legion state tournament (age 17-18).

The Teener age 13-14 squad started strong with a victory but was eliminated after two defeats from the VFW state tournament at Watertown.

Pierre finished with 25 wins and 25 defeats for the season in American Legion play.

The Teener A's finished with an overall record of 21 wins and 16 losses against other age 15-16 teams. The A's went 17-9 against conference opponents.

The Teener Bees finished with an overall record of 21 wins and 21 losses. The Bees also won two exhibition games against the Capital City Baseball Association Pony all-star teams.

The Teener age 13-14 team finished with 18 wins and 20 losses.

 A Diamond Anniversary

Among major league baseball stadiums, only Wrigley Field and Fenway Park are older than Pierre's historic Hyde Stadium. The 2010 season marks the 75th anniversary of Hyde Stadium as the home field for Pierre American Legion, VFW Teeners and amateur baseball.

Charles Lee Hyde, Sr., provided $1,000 for the materials for the stadium's construction. He was a major promoter of Pierre American Legion baseball. The stadium is named in his honor.

The stadium site was known as Capitol Field prior to the stadium's construction by federal relief-agency workers. The new stadium originally was called Hyde Park and hosted its first games in May of 1935. The bronze tablet from the dedication ceremony held later that summer in 1935 can still be found in the upper area behind the grandstand.

The 1935 season marked the start of a dominating era for Pierre in American Legion baseball. Pierre hosted the South Dakota American Legion state tournament at its new stadium and defeated Winner 7-3 in the title game, scoring four runs in the eighth inning.

Under manager Frank Kelley, Pierre began a string of state-title victories. The team won American Legion state championships in 1935, 1936, 1937, 1938 and 1941. Pierre also captured American Legion state titles in 1967 and 1968.

The longest state-title streak in South Dakota American Legion baseball belongs to Rapid City, when it had a single team under Post 22. Rapid City won state championships from 1970 through 1991. The second-longest streak was accomplished by Aberdeen, which won five in a row from 1952 through 1956.

Pierre's four-peat ranks third all-time, tied with Rapid City Post 22's run of four from 1993 through 1996.

Watch for more information about plans for Post 8 Baseball alumni night, scheduled for Friday, July 9, 2010, on the eve of Pierre’s annual Koester Tournament for American Legion teams.