Locals earn right to play in state tournament after placing third

The Owls continued their play in the District tournament on Monday night in Pierre. After losing the first game to Plankinton, the Owls kept their season alive by beating 4-Corners.

With the win, the Owls would again play Plankinton. The winner of this game would play Chamberlain and earn a berth in the state tournament. The Owls sent Nathan Hainy to the mound to try to earn the win. The game was intense from the first inning and both teams were struggling for offense.

The Owls were the first to score. Kaleb Kopfmann led off the second with a hit, stole second, and advanced to third on an error. Jay Fischer hit a sacrifice fly to right to score Kopfmann from third.

Plankinton was able to string some hits together and scored one of their own in the third. But the Owls would close out the scoring for the game in the fourth. A Plankinton error followed by four straight hits scored Arin Boschee from third. Hainy along with relief help from Adam Kaus would hold Plankinton scoreless the rest of the way to hold on to a 2-1 victory. Hainy pitched seven innings, gave up 1 run on six hits and struck out ten. Kaus pitched the final two and struck out three. Kopfmann and Fischer led the Owls with two hits apiece. Kaus, Hainy, Kevin Mebius, and Austin Olson all added a hit each.

The Owls returned to Pierre on Wednesday to play the final game of the District Tournament. Knowing they were in the State Tournament, the Owls were to play Chamberlain for second place. Adam Kaus got things off to a good start when he sent the second pitch of the game over the left field fence for a home run.

Chamberlain would get a run in the second and one in the fourth to take a 2-1 lead. Springs would take back the lead in the fifth. The Owls would send nine men to the plate and score five runs in the inning. Starting pitcher Kaleb Kopfmann would deliver the big hit of the inning as he hit a grand slam home run to plate the last four runs.

Springs would score two more in the sixth and two more in the seventh to lead 10-4. Kopfmann left the game after eight innings with the score 11-5. Kaus was called upon to close the door for the Owls. Chamberlain had other plans as they were able to scratch and claw six runs in the ninth to tie the score at 11. Neither team was able to score in the tenth or eleventh inning. Un fortunately, Chamberlain would score one in the twelfth off of relief pitcher Nathan Hainy to win 12-11.

The Owls will be participating in the State Tournament that starts on August 4th and runs through the 14th in Sioux Falls. The Owls will play Parkston at 7:00 p.m. in the first round. Springs also added three pick-up players to their roster. Plankinton players Chris Hill and Preston Kristensen along with 4-Corners player Mike Hand will be accompanying the Owls to Sioux Falls.

Be Sociable, Share!

•