Milbank Firechiefs Heading to State Tournament

The Firechiefs will play the first game in the 89th South Dakota Amateur Baseball Tournament which starts on Wednesday, August 4, at Cadwell Park in Mitchell. Milbank takes on the Platte Killer Tomatoes (11-7) at 5:30 p.m.

The Firechiefs punched their ticket to the state tournament when they finished second in the District 1B Tournament in Volga on Thursday, July 29.  Milbank defeated Bryant 13-3 in the first round and Clark in the semi-finals. They were defeated by Lake Norden in the championship game.

Game 1

Milbank got their offense rolling in the bottom of the third inning in Game 1 against Hamlin. Jonny Ash scratched the score column first. He reached base on an error and stole second and third. He came around to score when Ronnie Krause grounded out to the pitcher.   

Jacob Jackson, Brady Krause, and Bryan Appl all singled in the next three at-bats. Jackson and  Brady Krause both scored on Appl’s single to right field to make it 3-0. 

Hamlin put up a fight and scored three runs to tie it up in the top of the fourth, but Appl hit another single in the bottom of the fifth to bring home B.Krause and increase Milbank’s lead to 4-3.

The Firechiefs put up six more runs in the bottom of the sixth to move the score to 10-3. Here’s how they did it: Justin Larson drew a leadoff walk and later came around to score when Mitch Quade singled. The score sat at 5-3. Jonny Ash followed with a single and R. Krause bunted for a single to score Quade. Milbank led 6-3. 

Ash and R. Krause crossed the plate to make it 8-3 when Jacob Jackson reached base on an error by the second baseman. B. Krause hit a single to left field to help Jackson travel the bases and increase the score to  9-3..  B.. Krause advanced to home on a pickoff attempt at second base to make it 10-3. 

Milbank ended the game in the bottom of the eighth inning by scoring three runs. Appl led off the inning with his fourth single of the game. Dom Boerger hit his third home run of the season and also batted in Appl to bring the score up to 12-3. 

Mitch Quade doubled during the next at-bat, and Ash singled to send Quade home and secure the deal. The Firechiefs took the win at 13-3.

Taylor Boerger earned the win on the mound. He pitched eight innings, allowed only three runs, and struck out 15 batters. Appl led the way for the offense with four hits and three RBIs. B. Krause, Dom Boerger, Mitch Quade, and Jonny Ash each added two hits.

 Semi Finals

In the semi-final round, Milbank was fighting for the chance to head to the district championship. They defeated Clark 8-3 to get there.

In the bottom of the third, Travis Lester reached base on an error by the shortstop. He scored when Jacob Jackson singled up the middle with two outs. The score sat at 1-0. Jackson would later score when Brady Krause doubled down the left field line to take the score to 2-0.

Milbank’s offense exploded in the bottom of the fourth. Dom Boerger hit a leadoff double followed by walks from Lester and Ronnie Krause. Taylor Boerger also reached base on a fielder’s choice. 

T. Boerger scored on R. Krause’s walk to take the score to 3-2. B. Krause then cleared the bases with a grand slam. Milbank led 7-2.  T. Boerger was hit by a pitch to lead off the bottom of the seventh. He came around to score after an error by the first baseman on a pickoff attempt. The final score was 8-3.

Milbank was led by B. Krause, who recorded two hits and five RBIs. Jackson and D. Boerger also added two hits in Milbank’s victory.

Championship Round

In the championship game, the Firechiefs took on the Lake Norden Lakers for the District 1B Championship. Both teams had already secured a spot in the state tournament.

Milbank got on the board first in the bottom of the fifth. Brady Krause reached base on an error by the second baseman and then scored when Justin Larson singled to right field. The score was 1-0. 

Taylor Boerger led off the next inning and was hit by a pitch. Krause doubled to score Boerger and take the score to  2-0. Krause scored when Mitch Quade singled to make the score 3-0 late in the game. 

Lake Norden scored two runs in the top of the eighth and six more in the top of the ninth to make it  8-3 going into the bottom of the last inning. Dom Boerger hit his fourth home run of the year to lead off the inning and get the Chiefs closer, but Milbank only managed to put up one more score. Lake Norden took the victory at 8-4.

Dom Boerger pitched 8 2/3 innings for the Chiefs. He allowed six runs and struck out 13 batters. Mitch Quade led the way for the offense with three hits and one RBI.