On Thursday, August 1, Garretson’s 16U Baseball team was declared NE Region Champs after Hamlin forfeited. After some losses in the early and mid-season games, the boys rallied and came back strong throughout the rest of June and July, ultimately winning 7 games, losing one, and tying with Tea 5-5 for one game. As of press time, team stats stand at 10-6-1.
The region tournament, played in Clark, SD, began on Wednesday, July 31 with the team playing Clear Lake, winning 6-5. Garretson had 11 stolen bases for that game, and pitchers Isaiah Gnadt, Jayse Miller, Brady DeBates, and Dylan Kindt helped secure the victory.
The team then played Hamlin a few hours later, coming out on top with a score of 9-3. Garretson took the lead in the second inning, and pitchers Cole Skadsen, Gnadt, and Miller kept Hamlin from scoring, with Gnadt recording nine outs.
The final game against Baltic was a nail-biter, ending at 8-7. With the game tied at 7-7 in the bottom of the eighth, Carson Clark helped score with a single. Clark was able to go 4- for- 4 throughout the game, batting singles in innings 2, 3, 6, and 8. The entire game was back and forth for both teams, but Garretson ultimately came out on top.
They were then declared region champs after Hamlin forfeited the final game on Thursday, August 1.
The team will face off against Emery on Friday, August 9 at 8:00 pm at Tandberg Field in Garretson.
Games for the state tournament will be going all weekend in Garretson, starting with a game between Wessington Springs and Parkston at noon on Friday. The Championship game will be played on Sunday, August 11 at 5:00 pm.
