STICKS WIN 16U STATE CHAMPIONSHIP
For the sixth time in the eight-year history of the program, the Sticks are VFW state champions.
This time it was the Canistota/Freeman 16-and-under team that claimed the top prize, taking down Parkston 8-3 Sunday in Platte. The Sticks had previously defeated Selby 8-2 and Alexandria 9-1 en route to the title game.
Canistota/Freeman finishes its season 15-5 while Parkston ends the summer 20-5.
The Sticks also won the Lou Thury Sportsmanship Award presented by the South Dakota Umpire’s Association based on consensus from the umpires who worked the tournament and tournament organizers.
This is the second state championship in three weeks for the Sticks; Freeman/Marion won the 14-and-under title in Garretson July 28.
The Sticks won their first state championship at the 10-and under level in 2018 and again in 2020, the 14u title in 2021, and a 12u championship in 2022.
EARLIER TODAY
Two weeks after the 14-and-under Sticks won the VFW Class B state tournament over Parkston, the 16u Sticks are one win away from doing the same thing.
Canistota/Freeman will face Parkston in the championship Sunday afternoon at approximately 3 p.m. The Sticks advanced after defeating Selby 8-2 in the semifinal on Saturday on the strength of pitching from Brady Scott and hitting from Riley Tschetter, Luke Peters and Tannen Auch.
Scotland/Menno, meanwhile, was eliminated after losing its second game of the tournament, falling to Mt. Vernon/Plankinton 5-1, also on Saturday.
AFTER THE FIRST ROUND
It’s on to the semifinals for Canistota/Freeman.
Scotland/Menno, meanwhile, will aim for a spot in the consolation championship.
Competing in the opening round of the VFW 16B State Tournament Friday in Platte, the Sticks used a strong pitching performance by Riley Tschetter to shut down Alexandria en route to a 9-1 win. Canistota/Freeman moves on in the winner’s bracket and will face Selby Saturday in a game scheduled to start at 4 p.m.
Selby defeated Gregory 4-3 later Friday afternoon.
Meanwhile, Scotland/Menno lost to host team Platte/Geddes 5-3 Friday night and will face Mt. Vernon/Plankinton Saturday afternoon at 1:30 for a chance to play in the consolation champioship game on Sunday.
Mt. Vernon/Plankinton lost to Parkston 7-0 on Friday.
Sticks win
Tschetter allowed just two hits and one earned run while striking out 10 and walking four in 6 1/3 innings pitched. Oliver Waltner pitched the final 2/3 inning.
The bats were led by Easton Miller, Tannen Auch and Tschetter; Miller went 2-4 with a home run and two RBI, Auch had a two RBI triple to extend the Sticks’ lead in what was a five-run seventh, and Tschetter went 2-for-3 with an RBI.
Canistota/Freeman did not commit an error.
Trappers fall
For Scotland/Menno, Erick Buechler and Trent Guthmiller both had two hits and an RBI, and Izayah Ulmer collected the team’s only other hit.
Kory Keppen got the start and allowed two earned runs and four hits over three innings pitched; he struck out three and walked two. Guthmiller pitched four innings, giving up four hits and two earned runs while striking out five and walking two.
Scotland/Menno committed four errors.
