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Kimball/White Lake blanks Milbank, Ethan Price strikes out 12 batters in the win
Kimball/White Lake's Jesse Kroupa, left, celebrates with Caleb Crist, right, after scoring a run at the Class B state amateur baseball tournament on Monday in Brandon.
(Ryan Deal / 605 Sports)
Aug 11, 2025
 

By Ryan Deal

605 Sports

BRANDON — The Kimball/White Lake Nationals leaned on Ethan Price for seven innings, and then their offense took it from there. 

Price tossed a gem, Kimball/White Lake erupted for eight runs in the eighth inning and it blanked Milbank, 10-0, at the Class B state amateur baseball tournament on Monday. 

Price, a towering 6-foot-8 lefty, struck out 12 batters, allowed one hit and walked five batters in 7.2 innings. 

“It was a big win for us,” Price said. “I think we got a great defense. Caden (Lenz) made a phenomenal play. I thank the defense and the hitters and Jaxon (Christensen) my catcher. They all did a great job helping me out. So that was big.”

The Nationals and Firechiefs locked into a low-scoring affair, with KWL’s scoring two runs in the fourth inning. KWL’s Jesse Kroupa scored on a wild pitch and Carter Lenz recorded an RBI single in the fourth inning. 

The pitchers then kept the offense in check, with Price and Milbank starter Taylor Boerger both working out of jams. 

In the fourth and fifth innings, Price worked out of bases-loaded jams to keep the Firechiefs off the board. 

“He was the dude every single time and when we needed a big out he got a strikeout three different innings with bases juiced or guys on and he got the strikeout,” KWL manager Wes Kroupa said. “That’s a gamer right there. We are really lucky to have him. He’s phenomenal.”

“It made me pretty energized,” Price said about working out of the jams. “I got a little amped up. I was pretty excited. I think that was a really fun win.”

Caleb Crist relieved Price in the top of the eighth inning, and got Brady Krause to ground out on the first pitch in relief. 

Then, the Nationals exploded for eight runs in the bottom of the eighth and eliminated the Firechiefs due to the 10-run rule. 

“Our hitters do a great job,” Price said. “I knew it was eventually going to be time for us to do that. They do a great job for us.”

In the eighth inning, Carter Lenz put an exclamation point on the 10-run victory with a bases-clearing double and KWL moved onto the quarterfinals. 

“That’s the most fun I've had in a while,” Wes Kroupa said. “It doesn’t get a whole lot better than being in the state tournament and getting a win.” 

Milbank starter Taylor Boerger lasted 3.2 innings, allowing four hits, two earned runs, three walks and struck out four batters. Boerger’s brother, Dom, pitched 1.1 innings of relief, struck out three batters, allowed two hits and zero runs. 

Elkton pick-up player Dylan Gillespie pitched 2.2 innings, allowing six hits, eight earned runs, three walks and had one strikeout. 

Isaac Schulte (Estelline pick-up player) had the lone hit for Milbank. 

The Nationals totaled 12 hits, with Christensen finishing with three hits and one RBI. Caden Lenz and Carter Lenz had two hits apiece. Carter Lenz drove in four runs and Caden Lenz knocked in two runs. Trent Wookey, Keaton Christensen and Cooper Leiferman each had hits. 

Kimball/White Lake will play the Parkston Devil Rays at 7:30 p.m. Thursday. 

“We are excited for the opportunity,” Wes Kroupa said. “This will be the third time in four years that we have been here to the elite eight. We are going to make the most of the opportunity and be as ready as we can and keep doing what we are doing and let the chips fall, and give it everything.”