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2008 South Dakota American
Legion State 'A' Tournament

Smittys sneak past Yankton

Brendon Hoellein is greeted by his teammates after hitting a game-winning sacrifice fly.    

    ABERDEEN -- It took 23 innings, but the Smittys finally got back on the scoreboard, and did just enough to best Yankton Post 12 in an elimination game match-up on Thursday afternoon 5-4. Aberdeen had previously been held scoreless in American Legion competition since July 26, when Aberdeen bested Spearfish and the Post 22 Split Squad in a tournament in Rapid City.
    Aberdeen captured an early 1-0 lead in the second inning thanks to a Matt Kervin 2-out double, followed by a two-base throwing error by Yankton. Yankton would tie the game in the third on a Layne Somsen sac fly, only to see Brendon Hoellein chase Justin Kline home with an RBI single to make the game 2-1. The Smittys would expand the lead to 4-1 in the fourth inning off back-to-back doubles by Shane Cunningham and Blair Fredrickson and a key two-out hit by Evan Nolte.
    Yankton would rally back in the sixth inning, however, plating three runs, which set up the heroics for the Smittys in the ninth. After a leadoff walk by Cunningham and a Fredrickson sac bunt, intentional walks were issued to first Justin Kline and then Evan Nolte. Brendon Hoellein lined a ball that appeared to be headed for the right-center gap, when Somsen made a full-extension diving grab to preserve the game, if only for a moment. Cunningham would tag on the fly, and score as Somsen's throw was rushed and up the line.
    The Smittys survive to play against the loser of the Watertown/Post 320 matchup at 12:30 P.M. tomorrow afternoon in yet another elimination game.