By Jon Akre

605 Sports

BRANDON — Early offense, stout defense, a pitching gem, and the Gamecocks are state championship bound.

Humboldt-Hartford shut down the Eastern Dakota League district champion Castlewood Ravens, 5-0, to push the Gamecocks into Sunday’s Class B state amateur baseball championship.

The Gamecocks were led by a pitcher they hadn’t used in this state tournament up until Saturday’s semifinal, and couldn’t have asked for a better performance out of Cole Barthel.

“This is awesome,” said Gamecock manager Chad Morrison. “Cole (Barthel) was outstanding. He pitched his type of game, he was in control. When he’s like that, he can have quick innings. He knows our defense will be there for them and he just kept chucking and gave us a really good opportunity tonight.”

Barthel, who has the second most innings worked for HH, tossed seven shutout innings, allowing just four hits and a walk, striking out four. Barthel is not your typical blazing pitcher which caused fits for the aggressive Ravens lineup.

“When Cole is hitting his spots and especially early, teams are going to press and they want to swing harder and harder,” Morrison said. “That’s when he’s even more and more effective. I’ve seen it throughout the years, he’s been consistent for us. So proud of him to have that opportunity to showcase it.”

And while Barthel did his part, the offense took care of business early against Ravens pitcher Kellan Benck. HH, which got a baserunner on in all but one inning, broke through in the second inning on a Jonah Rechtenbaugh sac-fly, scoring Brodie Herr (Hartford/Humboldt Wood Ducks pick-up player).

PHOTOS: The @HHGamecocks advance to Sunday's Class B championship with a 5-0 win over the @CwoodRavens97 Saturday in a Class B semifinal game during the 93rd annual @SDAmateur Baseball Tournament in Brandon. (Photos by Rodney Haas / 605 Sports) - https://t.co/SEe34Dnldt

605 Sports (@605_sports) August 17, 2025

The next batter, Cam Quigley roped a ball to deep center field to score a second run, but was gunned down trying for an inside-the-park home run after a miscommunication between Quigley and Morrison at third.

“I was trying to see the throw. See what would happen, maybe an errant throw and we could walk in,” Morrison said. “Put the brakes on a little bit too late, he was already chugging on home. That’s on me.”

The Gamecocks broke the game open in the fifth scoring two more runs on a Joe Hanisch double, but HH knew they were far from securing their spot in the championship.

“Just don’t be complacent,” said Quigley, who batted 2-for-4 with a triple and two RBIs in the win. “Know that four runs is nothing in amateur baseball. You can’t be complacent, just go out and work hard for one every inning is our mindset.”

After two scoreless innings, Quigley drove in one more run to push the lead to five.

For the first time all tournament, the Gamecocks went to the bullpen and Barthel was relieved by shortstop Noah Vettrus after the seventh inning.

“I’ve been having in my back pocket the whole tournament, waiting for an opportunity,” Morrison said of Vettrus. “Jonah (Rechtenbaugh) and Blake (Svboda) did an outstanding job the first two games, and didn't need him. Cole went seven strong so at some point in time we were going to get him in there and I trust him.”

Vettrus continued the shutout allowing just two walks over the final two innings.

It was just the second time all season Castlewood had been shutout, and the first to a South Dakota opponent. Add on the consistent offense from the Gamecocks, and it was a turbulence for the Ravens Saturday night at First National Bank Field.

“Guys on the base paths, that puts pressure on the defense and the pitchers,” Morrison said. “They know that, they feel that. Eventually it’s going to create an error and an opportunity for us and that happened late in the game and that one run, you never know how much that’s going to make a difference.”

Hanisch had two RBIs on a double and a walk, Devon Garry and Vettrus each had a hit while Herr drew three walks in the win for HH.

Benck took the loss for Castlewood, allowing four runs on four hits and three walks in 4.1 innings. Alex Gauer had two hits, Gus Steiger tallied a hit and a walk while Lucas Ching totaled a single in the loss.

The championship is set between the Humboldt/Hartford Gamecocks and the Parkston Devil Rays in a rematch from May 9, a 16-7 win for the Gamecocks.

It’s both teams' first time playing for the state championship.

“We just got to go out and do what we do,” Quigley said. “Play the same baseball game we’ve been doing all year and we’ll get there.”