By Jon Akre

605 Sports

In the fourth Kellen Hoeke drove in a run on a single in the fourth, and Brent Griffith (Clark pick-up player) plated the fourth run for the Firechiefs on another sacrifice-fly.

With a four run lead Milbank’s ace, Dom Boerger, was able to go to work.

“It just makes my job easier,” said Boerger. “Usually when I’m on the mound and I’m starting, my performance is lacking at the plate when I’m hitting, but they picked me up on that side of it.”

Boerger, a usual state tournament standout, struck out 15 batters in nine innings, allowing just seven hits, two runs, and two walks.

“Fastball. My slider too, backdoor slider worked well,” said Boerger on what was working in his performance. “Going into a game you get scouting reports from other people, but we stick to our guns. I pound fastballs inside and backdoor sliders all day.”

The Gamecocks were able to plate a few runs in the late innings. After a leadoff walk and ground ball moving the runner over in the eighth, Broc Haldeman plated Ryan Healy on an RBI-single to centerfield.

“That’s an error on my part, I led off the inning with a walk. If you leadoff an inning with a walk, that runner is going to score,” said Boerger. “That was in the back of my mind when it happened.”

But what was lost in the top of the eight, the Firechiefs took back in the home half of the eighth. A walk followed by an error on a bunt allowed Taylor Boerger to drive in a run on a single.

The Gamecocks got another run on a two-out double off the bat of Jonah Rechtenbaugh, but Boerger struckout the next batter to end the game, helping the Firchiefs move on in the State B tournament.

“We’re a pretty young team, so coming out on Cadwell and getting the guys to settle in and do their jobs can be tough,” said Krause. “Kind of came out and hit the ball better than we have in a long time.”

Krause batted 2-for-4 with two RBIs, Mitch Quade tallied two hits, a double, and three walks, Brent Griffith of Clark tallied two hits, a double, a walk, and an RBI, Merik Junker tallied three hits, including a triple, while Hoeke and Taylor Boerger each tallied an RBI-single in the win.

For Hartford/Humboldt, Cole Barthel allowed two runs on seven hits and a walk in three innings.

Cam Quigley tallied two hits, while Haldeman and Rechtenbaugh each drove in a run on one hit in the loss.

With the win, Milbank advances to the second round where it will face Dell Rapids PBR on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m.