South Dakota VFW Class A 16U region play looks a little different this year. With only 15 teams registered this year, region play is a best two-out-of-three series. Fourteen teams were randomly paired into seven series, with the winner of each series qualifying for state. The state tournament host team, Beresford/Alcester-Hudson, is automatically in state and is not playing in regions.
Tri-Valley Maroon 16U was paired against Wagner. Their first game was played on Monday, July 24th in Wagner. Wagner took the first game 2-0.
The two teams got locked into a close battle. Wagner was able to take advantage of getting the bases loaded with nobody out in the bottom of the first inning. A two-out bases-loaded walk brought home the first run. The score remained 1-0 until the bottom of the fifth inning. Again Wagner loaded the bases with nobody out and then scored on an RBI ground out.
Denton Bicknase finished with two hits. Cyrus Kirstein, Brody Dybvig, Hunter Foster, Tristen Bunde, and Kaiden Bernards all had one hit each. Dybvig pitched 2 1/3 innings and allowed an earned run on two hits and four walks with two strikeouts. Bunde pitched two innings and allowed two hits and a walk with three strikeouts. Bicknase pitched 1 2/3 innings and allowed an earned run on a hit and four walks with two strikeouts.
The second game of the series will be played on Wednesday, July 26th in Colton. If Wagner wins, they will advance to state. If Tri-Valley wins, a third game will be played, and the winner of the third game will qualify for state.
