79ERS WIN STATE TOURNAMENT OPENER 8-2 OVER MILBANK
Post 152 made history Friday night, Aug. 1 when they played in — and won — its first-ever state tournament game.
Competing in the 2025 South Dakota Senior Legion Class B Tournament in Milbank, the second-year 79ers defeated the host team — Post 9 — 8-2 to advance in the winner’s bracket on Saturday. Post 152 — which plays as Scotland/Menno/Freeman/Canistota (SMFC) — will play at 6:30 p.m. against Parkston, a team it defeated 2-1 and 5-1 during the regular season.
A win against Parkston would put SMFC in the quarterfinals Sunday night at 6 p.m. A loss moves them to an elimination game Sunday at 2:30 p.m.
The tournament continues with the semifinals Monday and concludes Tuesday.
Win over Milbank
The 79ers went into the tournament 15-11 while Milbank was 10-8, and Post 152 simply outplayed Post 9 in the opening round, scoring eight runs on 11 hits and giving up just one earned run on six hits.
It was 3-0 early, and then 3-2, before SMFC scored five unanswered runs for a relatively easy win.
“We put the ball in play, up and down the lineup we got contributions, and the pitchers threw strikes,” said coach Dustin Tschetter. “We got the nerves out of the way — that’s the big part.”
Post 152 found momentum early when a Kory Keppen single scored Bryce Sattler, an Easton Miller single scored Keppen and a Tayden Kerrigan double scored Miller to make it 3-0 after the first.
Post 9 got two back in the top of the second on an error, a single and a two-RBI double, but Milbank wouldn’t put another runner in scoring position the rest of the game.
The pitchers, meanwhile, were on point.
Bryce Sattler struck out two without a walk in three innings pitched, Riley Tschetter threw two innings of perfect ball, and Erick Buechler allowed just one hit it two innings of work.
“We’re having a lot of fun right now,” coach Tschetter said. “The dugout’s been a blast lately; they’re loud and into the game. They’re finally bonding and having some fun. You can see what kind of talent we actually have.”
Kerrigan had a strong night from the plate, going 3-for-3 with that first inning RBI double. Miller had two RBI, Keppen and Sattler both collected a pair of singles and Rocky Ammann had an RBI double.
Tschetter and Evan Scharberg also both knocked in a run.
Now, eyes turn to a familiar foe — Parkston (15-11), which defeated Dakota Valley (17-7) earlier on Friday.
“We know Parkston, they know us,” he said. “We’ve met them how many times in how many different sports in the last three years. It’s a rivalry, obviously. We’ve had their number the first games this year, but that means absolutely nothing tomorrow.
“We’ve just got to keep playing the way we’ve been playing since regions started,” the coach continued. “We’re finally believing in each other, we’re trusting the guy in the lineup who comes next, and we’re passing the buck on.
“We’ve just got to keep having fun.”
First round scores
- Dell Rapids 1, Clark-Willow Lake 0
- Winner/Colome 5, Groton 0
- Parkston 7, Dakota Valley 5
- SMFC 8, Milbank 2
Saturday games
- Clark-Willow Lake vs Groton, 10 a.m.
- Dakota Valley vs. Milbank, 12:30 p.m. (approximate)
- Dell Rapids vs. Winner/Colome, 4 p.m.
- Parkston vs. SMFC, 6:30 p.m (approximate)
Follow the action
KMSD radio out of Milbank — 95.1 FM/1510 AM — will be broadcasting live video and audio coverage of the 19U American Legion State B Tournament that is underway now through next Tuesday.
