For over eight innings, the Humboldt/Hartford Wood Ducks held a lead and were poised to upset the Platte Killer Tomatoes in the State B Tournament on Thursday, August 15th. Platte, however, scored four times with at least one out in the bottom of the ninth to get an 8-7 win.
The Wood Ducks grabbed momentum right away in the top of the first inning with two runs. They added another in the top of the third and two more in the fourth for a 5-0 lead. Platte got on the board with a run in the bottom of the sixth. The Wood Ducks padded their lead, 7-1, with two more runs in the top of the seventh. Platte got one more run in the bottom of the inning to make the score 7-2.
The Killer Tomatoes then started their rally in the bottom of the eighth. They scored two runs to cut the lead to 7-4. In the bottom of the ninth with one on and one out, Platte took advantage of an error and walk. A two-run single then made the score 7-6. Another walk followed, and then an RBI single tied the game 7-7. A runner was thrown out at the plate during the play for the second out. The winning run, however, advanced to third on the play as well. The next batter hit the game-winning RBI single to give Platte the win.
Austin King finished with three hits, one a double, and an RBI. Camden McDonald added two hits and an RBI. Brayden Odegaard had a double with two RBIs. Dawson Bakker also had a double with an RBI. Nathan Adrian, Gage Nelson, and Keaton Vessells all had one hit each. Logan Larsen pitched 8 1/3 innings and allowed seven runs, six earned, on seven hits and seven walks with seven strikeouts. Presten Riddle pitched 1/3 of an inning and allowed an earned run on two hits and a walk.
