Corsica falls in state Legion opener

MILBANK — Corsica’s Aaron Groeneweg pitched all nine innings but took the loss in the first round of the Class B state Legion baseball tournament Friday.

Corsica trailed early and fell to Vermillion 5-1.

Groeneweg allowed seven hits and five earned runs. He walked seven and struck out eight.

“Aaron had a little bit of adrenaline overflow, but once we got going he was pretty good,” Corsica coach Bob Bamberg said.

Vermillion scored three runs in the top of the first inning and Corsica’s lone run came in the bottom of the ninth.

Offensively for Corsica, Adam Fink had two hits and Groeneweg, Kris Menning, Ryan Hongslo and Dustin Bultje each had a hit.

Collin Bertram was 2-for-3 with an RBI for Vermillion. He was his team’s lone player with multiple hits. Bertram also picked up the win, throwing a complete-game six-hitter. He struck out seven and didn’t walk a batter.

“We left some guys on base,” Bamberg said. “We had some opportunities to score, but we just couldn’t get our guys around. We had chances to get back in the game, but we just couldn’t put the hits together to get the runs in.”

Vermillion advances in the winner’s bracket for a 7 p.m. game today, while Corsica plays at noon today.

Flandreau 16, Miner-McCook 7

MILBANK — The Miner-McCook Legion baseball team committed seven errors and lost 16-7 to Flandreau in the first round of the Class B state Legion baseball tournament Friday.

Miner-McCook’s Gavin Gassman took the loss on the mound, throwing 3 2/3 innings, allowing 12 hits, 12 runs and six walks. He struck out five.

Flandreau led 7-3 after two innings of play and scored at least once in all but three innings.

Miner-McCook’s Jon Forster was 2-for-5 with three runs scored, Zach Bies was 2-for-5 with two RBIs and a run scored and Tyler Genzlinger had a hit and an RBI.

Greg Mehlbrech pitched the final 5 1/3 innings for Miner-McCook. He gave up nine hits, four runs and one walk. He struck out three.

Miner-McCook had 12 hits and seven errors, while Flandreau finished with 21 hits and five errors.

Flandreau’s Mitch Hansen was the winning pitcher, throwing 6 1/3 innings, allowing 12 hits and seven runs. He walked six and struck out six.

Mitch Foster was 5-for-6 with three RBIs for Flandreau, which plays its next game against Webster at 5 p.m. today in the winner’s bracket. Miner-McCook plays Winner/Colome at approximately noon today.

Webster 4, Winner/Colome 3

MILBANK — Austin Calhoon pitched the entire game and struck out 12 for Winner/Colome, but seven team errors cost his squad as Webster defeated Winner/Colome 4-3 in the first round of the Class B state Legion baseball tournament Friday in Milbank.

Calhoon suffered the loss, despite allowing just two earned runs on six hits and four walks.

“(Calhoon) threw a great game today,” Winner/Colome coach Blake Nielsen said. “We had some let downs in the field. They looked dead out there.”

Spencer Lux picked up the win on the mound for Webster, throwing 8 2/3 innings. He allowed three runs on six hits and three walks while striking out 13. Tanner Lux recorded the final out of the game for the save.

Austin Richey was Winner/Colome’s lone batter with multiple hits, recording two singles and finishing with one RBI and a run.

“The approach at the plate looked good,” Nielsen said. “We made them throws strikes but we just couldn’t get the timely hits that we needed.”

Jared McClurg was Webster’s only multiple-hit batter, finishing 2-for-4.

Webster advances to take on Flandreau in the winner’s bracket at 5 p.m. today in Milbank while Winner/Colome takes on Miner-McCook at noon.

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