By Jon Akre

605 Sports

The Chargers held a lead for just one half inning in the quarterfinals. Leadoff batter Drew Weir started the game with a single, stealing second base and getting to third on a sac-bunt before scoring on a sac-fly from Gabe Long.

“I trusted my defense, I knew that they could get the job done,” said Keaton Gale. “I knew I could get a few strikeouts so when I needed an out I could go at them. I actually got more calm after I gave up that first run because it just took all the jitters away.”

The Huskies answered the Chargers first-inning run with two of their own to take a 2-1 lead, but the Chargers immediately put in their Maddux Munson who shut down EPJ over the next three frames, tossing eight strikeouts in the process. 

Gale found a rhythm as well with four consecutive shutout innings of his own until the EPJ offense struck for five runs in the bottom of the fifth inning, scoring all five runs with two outs in the inning.

“We do it for each other. We get the next guy up. Do whatever it takes to get the next guy up and that’s what we did,” said Keaton Gale. “We all love one another and we have a weird bond that just connects us all. We’re just out there having fun.”

With two runners on, Jace Shatswell hit a sharp ground ball through the glove of H Gorsett to score a run, while Grayson Girard and Luke Swatek each drove in two runs on back-to-back base hits to close out the big inning.

With a 7-1 lead going into the sixth inning, Gale says he could settle into the last two innings a little easier, even while allowing two runs in the sixth.

“Having that big lead definitely helps,” said Keaton. “They got two more runs after that but I wasn’t too worried about that. It takes more than that to win the game.”

The Huskies advance to the state semifinals to square off with top-seeded Dell Rapids Quarriers. The defending state champs took care of Sioux Valley, 8-2, earlier in the day.

“We’re just going to have fun. Have as much fun as possible and then the game just takes over,” said Keaton. “I know they got a good pitcher. We’ll pick him up early and just play our game. Trust each other, trust our abilities, and we’ll do just fine.”

Offensively Girard collected three hits and two RBIs, Swatek drove in two runs on one hit and one walk, Gale and Ashton Fairbanks each added an RBI single, while Brody VanRoekel collected two hits in the win. Wyatt Herrity, Levi Hanson, Shatswell and Nick Prouty all reach base safely on a combined six walks as well.

“We had a pretty good approach,” said John Gale. “They don’t panic and they don’t quit. Up and down the lineup got some big hits and he threw a lot of pitches, we got to him. It’s a confidence builder when you can get help from everybody in the lineup.”

For SFC/SFL, Brayden Witte had two hits while Gabe Long and Peter Samp each drove in runs on one hit in the loss. Weir took the loss allowing two runs on three hits in one inning pitched.

The Huskies and Quarriers will battle for a spot in the Class B state championship Tuesday at 12 p.m. at Bob Shelden Field in Brookings. Tune in on LiveTicket.Tv.