Wagner takes second at Class A state teener baseball tournament
Aug. 8—NORTH SIOUX CITY, Iowa. — The Wagner teener baseball team nearly earned a state title on Sunday afternoon at the Class A state 16-and-under teener baseball tournament but Tea Area emerged with the crown after a 5-4 victory at Dakota Valley High School.
Corbin Carda had two hits, including a first-inning home run to get Wagner on the scoreboard. Teddy Slaba had two hits, and Carter Cournoyer and Brady Cournoyer each drove in a run for Wagner.
Wagner led 3-0 after four innings, but Tea Area rallied with four runs in the fifth inning and added an additional run in the sixth to lead 5-3. Wagner scored once more in the sixth but left the tying run at second base in the seventh inning.
Matt Link was the losing pitcher of record, throwing 5 2/3 innings, allowing seven hits, five runs and striking out eight. Javian Pesicka threw the final 1 1/3 innings, allowing two hits and no runs, with a strikeout.
Ethan Vis had two hits and drove in two runs, while Sam Werdel was 4-for-4 with an RBI in the win. Nathan Christensen picked up the win on the mound with six strikeouts in five innings and two earned runs allowed, and Teagan Dedula earning the two-inning save.
Earlier in the weekend, Wagner defeated Dakota Valley 2-1 in the quarterfinals and Dell Rapids 5-0 to reach the championship game. Wagner was recognized with the tournament's Sportsmanship Award, which is presented by the South Dakota Umpires Association.
