LOCAL SPORTS 5-18-23

The Mount Marty Lancers archery team is in Statesboro, Georgia, as today is the opening day of the 2023 Collegiate Target Nationals for Archery.

            Only practice rounds and the official opening ceremonies will be held today, with qualifying rounds of competition set to begin tomorrow morning, starting with all women’s categories in the AM, with the men’s categories competing in the afternoon.

            Result updates throughout the tournament can be found at usarchery.org.

            The Yankton Bucks tennis team are set to open the Class AA state tournament this morning in Sioux Falls,

            The Bucks, last year’s class A state champions, are coming off a runner-up finish in the ESD tournament. The second place showing for Yankton came without one of their key players as junior Miles Krajewski (Kra-ski), the flight four singles competitor and member of the third flight duos unit for the Bucks, was in Thailand during the meet, as he was competing in an international para-badminton event.

            Official seedings for the Bucks are as follows:

  • In Singles play
    • Zachary Briggs is the 5th seed in flight 1
    • Harrison Krajewski (Kra-ski) is the 5th seed in flight 2
    • Christopher Rockne is the 8th seed in flight 3
    • Miles Krajewski (Kra-ski) is the 5th seed in flight 4
    • Jack Pedersen is the 7th seed in flight 5
    • Ethan Marsh in the 8th seed in flight 6.
  • In Doubles play
    • Briggs and Harrison Krajewski (Kra-ski) are the 2nd seed in flight 1 and have a first round bye.
    • Rockne and Pedersen are the 8th seed in flight 2
    • Miles Krajewski (Kra-ski) and Ethan Marsh are the 4th seed in flight 3

            First serve of the opening round is set for 9:00 AM this morning at McKennan Park in Sioux Falls.

            The Regional portion of the Class A state baseball tournament has been set, and the 2nd seeded Yankton Bucks will host a section of games this weekend.

            Yankton will play host to 7th seeded Sturgis, 10th seeded Sioux Falls Jefferson, and 15th seeded Rapid City Central in a one day, single elimination bracket, with the winner advancing to the state tournament.

            The opening regional game in Yankton will be between the Bucks and Rapid City Central at noon, with the winner meeting either Sturgis or Sioux Falls Jefferson in the title game at 5:00 PM that evening.

            Seven members of the Yankton Bucks baseball team were honored yesterday, as it was announced that they were named Academic All-State by the South Dakota High School Baseball Association.

            The seven honorees for the Bucks were Isaiah Schelhaas, Jack Halsted, Josh Sheldon, Luke Bernatow, Drew Ryken, Mac Ryken and Rugby Ryken.

            The Yankton Gazelles softball team look to add a final win to their 11 and 6 record this year, as they play their final regular season game this evening, on the road against Sioux Falls Jefferson.

            The Gazelles currently sit 8th in the Class AA standings as they look to maintain a home SoDak 16 game. First pitch this evening is set for 6:00 PM.

            Yankton track and field will host their “last chance” meet today at Williams Field. Eight total schools will compete in the event as they prepare for next week’s state tournament. Events will begin this afternoon with the Javelin at 2:30 PM.

            League play for the 2023 edition of the South Central League begins this evening, as the Yankton Tappers will be one of seven teams competing in the league this year.

            Mount Marty Lancers Chris Rofe, Cooper Davis, and Shane Miller lead the tappers pitching rotation alongside Yankton high alum Kieren Luellman. As for the Tapper bats, they will be led by current Lancer athletes Caid Koletzky, Rex Ryken, and Joe Gokie, as well as  Mitch and Devin Gullikson, and Dylan Prouty.

            Each South Central team will play 12 league games over a nine-week span with the regular season ending July 9th. Yankton will play host to the opening rounds of the class A state tournament in early August. The Tappers officially open their season on Sunday, against Crofton.