MITCHELL — The Clark Traders sent shock waves through the South Dakota amateur baseball world on Friday.

The Traders stunned perennial powerhouse and local favorite Alexandria, 3-1, in the opening round of the Class B state amateur baseball tournament at Cadwell Park.

Angels, who have won five state championships since 2013, were again viewed as a state title contender and appeared ready to lock horns with Canova in the second round. The Gang, who are another perennial power, defeated Elkton just before Alexandria took the field on Friday. 

Clark put a screeching halt to the battle of the Class B blue bloods, eliminating the nearby Angels in front of a strong contingent of their fans. 

“Pure excitement,” Clark pitcher Wes Jones said after the upset win. “I am sure we will go home and be shivering a little bit until it all goes down. But it was awesome.”

Jones pitched a complete game and held Alexandria to just three hits.

“Wes threw a gem,” Clark shortstop Rhett Florey said. “We couldn’t expect anything else, especially for a team like Alexandria. We know what they are capable of. They are a good team.”

Florey gave Clark an offensive jolt in the first inning, launching a two-run homer over the 340-foot left field fence. The Traders tacked on another run in the inning for a 3-0 lead. 

“It really gave the team the idea that we are, too,” Florey said. “We made it for a reason.”

The three-run cushion allowed Jones to settle in on the mound. 

“You go out there and either you are in the zone or not in the zone,” Jones said. “The moment was there and I kind of stayed in the zone until it was over.”

Tyson Gau drove in Alexandria’s lone run in the fifth inning. But the Angels stranded runners in scoring position for much of the night.  

“They're a good team and it’s awesome to put them down,” Jones said. “They look big and they can swing the bat. They were very intimidating when they came in, but it worked out.”

In the seventh and eighth innings, Alexandria batters flew out with runners in scoring position to end threats. In the ninth, Jerrod Zens grounded out for the final out and Clark completed the stunner. 

“I would say with baseball, when you get into the playoffs, anything can happen,” Florey said. “So that’s why you want to make the playoffs, you never know what can happen.” 

The Traders will play Canova at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday in the second round. 

“We are going to enjoy this,” Florey said. “We know they are a good team, too. But you make the playoffs and you never know what can happen.”