Thune’s complete game helps Cubs beat Redfield Pheasants 5-3

• Jeff Wallace

(Kevin Pottebaum/Republic) Salem second baseman Jeff Wallace fields a throw near second base during the amateur baseball state tournament Thursday at Cadwell Park in Mitchell.

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The Salem Cubs felt like they needed to prove themselves at the Class B state amateur baseball tournament.

The team was near elimination and almost missed the state tournament during the District 4B tournament. However, Dell Rapids PBR played an ineligible player in a game against Salem and forfeited the game. The forfeiture allowed Salem to play against the Redfield Pheasants in the state tournament Thursday at Cadwell Park in Mitchell, and the Cubs took advantage with a 5-3 win.

“We needed to prove that we’re a better ball club than what we showed in the districts and down the stretch,” manager Roger Duxbury said.

Logan Thune pitched all nine innings in the win and Brian Duxbury was 2-for-4 with a two-run home run in the seventh inning that ended up being the difference in the game.

“I was down in the count and I was just looking for a base hit up the middle,” Brian Duxbury said. “I just happened to put a big swing on it.”

The Cubs led 5-0 entering the final frame but Redfield battled to get the tying run up to the plate.

The Pheasants scored three runs in the inning without recording a hit. Thune had two walks, a hit batter and three wild pitches to go along with a Salem error.

“If the winning run got to the plate, I was going to go with another pitcher,” Roger Duxbury said. “I wasn’t going to let it get away from us, but he threw well.”

Thune settled down to retire the last two batters, striking out Christian Christianson for the third time in the game to finish the victory. Thune allowed two earned runs on three hits, eight walks and one hit batter. He struck out eight.

“It takes all the pitching you have to get very far in this state tournament,” Roger Duxbury said. “I couldn’t be happier with the way he threw.”

Thune outmatched his counterpart, Tommy Gregg, who pitched all eight innings for Redfield, allowing five runs on nine hits and two walks while striking out six.

Salem got on the board early with two runs in the first inning, but only managed two base runners over the next four innings.

“We came right out of the shoot with three hits and two runs right away,” Roger Duxbury said. “Our bats are coming around and I think it can continue.”

Steve Mehlbrech finished the game with three hits for Salem while Thune added a pair of singles and scored twice.

Jared Kuehn was Redfield’s lone player with multiple hits, finishing 2-for-3 with a run scored.

Salem plays Lennox at 6 p.m. Monday in Mitchell.

NOTES: Brian Duxbury’s home run was the only extra-base hit of the game and first home run of the tournament, which switched to wood bats this season. “I don’t really think there’s a different with the wood bats or metal bats,” Brian Duxbury said. “If you barrel it up, it’s still going to go.” … Thune did not allow a hit after the fourth inning, but Redfield had only one inning without a base runner reaching. … Gregg recorded all six of his strikeouts against the bottom three hitters in Salem’s order.

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