The Britton Lumberjacks brought home a consolation championship in the VFW state junior varsity tournament last weekend in Estelline and Clear Lake.
The Jacks lost a pair of pool play games that dropped them into the Bravo Division for bracket play and the local nine rebounded with a pair of wins to take consolation honors.
In a wild back-and-forth Bravo championship game the Jacks outscored Flandreau 13-8 following a dominant 10-0 win over Clear Lake in six innings in semifinal action. The local nine opened pool play with a 7-3 loss to Platte, dropped a 10-3 decision to Tri-Valley, and wrapped up pool play with a 13-1 victory over West Central.
“I’m very happy to close the season with a win,” said Coach BJ Richter. “We did not play well on Saturday in pool play so unfortunately we missed on the opportunity to be in the top bracket, but that is the way baseball goes. Some days it just doesn’t work for you. However, these guys shook it off and played well on Sunday and won some competitive games.
“It’s always difficult when the season’s over, I never want it to end,” concluded Richter. “This group improved a great deal and gave us many memorable games. I’m very proud of them. They try to play the game in a way that honors this sport, and that is a joy to watch, coach and support.”
Britton 13
Flandreau 8
Britton looked to take charge early by grabbing a 7-0 lead in the second inning, but Flandreau rallied with five runs in the bottom of the second and tied the contest at 8-8 after five frames. The Jacks came up with a big-time answer with a five-run explosion of its own in the sixth to get the win.
Max Suther had a big game at the plate with a triple, double, and single and collected four RBI’s. Lincoln Kilker singled twice and knocked in a pair of runs, and Colton Chapin, Dylan Redler, Drew Heitmann, Chaz Vietor, and Lofton Heer all laced safeties.
Kaden Mills started on the mound, pitching four and two-thirds innings and fanning four, and Heitmann picked up the pitching win with two and a third innings of relief, striking out five.
Britton 10
Clear Lake 0
Britton led just 3-0 after four innings but took charge with a five-run fifth frame.
The Jacks out-hit Clear Lake 10-2 and played errorless ball in the field. Kilker rapped three singles, Carter Grobe had two base hits and two RBI’s, Suther had a single and three RBI’s, and Chapin, Redler, Nick Folkman, and Heer laced singles.
Vietor turned in a dominant pitching performance, allowing just two hits and striking out 12.
Platte 7
Britton 3
Platte jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the first innings and the Jacks were not able to dig out of that hole.
Chapin rapped a pair of singles and Mitchell Burger and Folkman had base hits. Vietor started on the mound and took the pitching loss.
Tri-Valley 10
Britton 3
Tri-Valley used an eight-run third inning to take charge.
The Jacks were out-hit only 6-4 but eight walks hurt the local nine. Burger ripped a double and Chapin, Kilker, and Suther each singled. Britton used four pitchers in the contest.
Britton 13
West Central 1
West Central drew first blood with a run in the top of the first but the Jacks answered with five tallies in the bottom of the opening frame and added four more runs in the second and third innings to end the game early on the 10-run rule.
Britton out-hit West Central 11-3 and had four extra-base hits. Suther doubled and singled and knocked in four runs, Kilker doubled and singled and had two RBI’s, Chapin singled twice with two RBI’s, Folkman tripled and had two RBI’s, Mills doubled, and Heer, Burger, and Jack Teveldal laced safeties.
Redler went the distance on the mound, fanning four, giving up just three hits, and walking just one.
FOR FULL STATS, SEE THIS WEEK'S JOURNAL.
