LOCAL SPORTS 5-22-23

The Yankton Bucks high school baseball season came to an end in the regional finals on Saturday following a 3 to 0 loss to Sioux Falls Jefferson, but not before senior Isaiah Schelhaas tossed a perfect game earlier on the day.

            The Bucks defeated Rapid City Central in game one 10 to 0 in a five inning game that saw Schelhaas strike out 7 of the 15 Cobbler batters that came to the plate. The trio of Lucas Kampshoff, Matthew Sheldon, and Jace McCorkell led the way offensively in game one, with all three going 2 for 3 with an RBI.

            The Bucks season ended in game two as they fell 3 to 0 to Sioux Falls Jefferson. Jefferson pitcher Kyler Miritello was the difference maker in the game as he struck out 14 batters and allowed only one hit. For the Bucks, Mac Ryken secured the lone hit of the day, while Mark Kathol got on base three times, all via a walk.

            The Bucks end the high school season with a 13 and 7 record, as Yankton baseball now turns their attention to the Legion season.

            The SoDak 16 for softball has officially been set, and the 8th seeded Yankton Gazelles will host #9 Rapid City Stevens tomorrow evening at Sertoma Park. The winner will advance to the state tournament in Aberdeen.

            First pitch of the game is set for 5:00 PM, with pregame coverage on KYNT and KYNTV beginning at 4:30.

            The Class AA Boys State Tennis Tournament wrapped up last Friday, and the Bucks finished 5th as a team. Individually, the Bucks had a player finish top-9 in each singles flight, while all three doubles teams for Yankton finished just outside the top-5.

Official results for the Bucks:

  • In singles play:
    • Zachary Briggs finished 4th in flight one
    • Harrison Krajewski (Kra-ski) finished 4th in flight two
    • Christopher Rockne was 6th in flight three
    • Miles Krajewski was 3rd in flight four
    • Jack Pedersen was 6th in flight five
    • Ethan Marsh was 9th in flight six.
  • In doubles play:
    • Briggs and Harrison Krajewski finished 6th in flight one
    • Rockne and Pedersen fell in the 5th place semi-final matchup of flight two
    • Marsh and Miles Krajewski finished 6th in flight three.

            Yankton put up a total of 231 points en route to their fifth place finish, while Sioux Falls Lincoln won the event, as they captured their 9th straight state title.

Yankton Gazelles Golf will be on the road tomorrow morning as they travel to Watertown for the ESD Conference Meet. Tee time is set for 10:00 AM at Watertown Municipal Cattail Golf Course.

The Mount Marty Lancers archery team placed 6th overall in the USA Archery Collegiate Target Nationals over the weekend.

Michael Plummer led the Lancers as he took gold in the Individual Male Recurve, and earned a silver medal in mixed doubles alongside Alyssa Nelson. Plummer’s finishes in last weekend’s event, along with his performance in the indoor nationals earlier this year, earned him a spot on the All-American team for men’s recurve. Other Lancers to earn All-American honors were Lalit Jain in men’s recurve, and John Sarazin in men’s barebow.

Cedar Catholic senior Carson Noecker ended his high school career on a high note as he captured his second straight 1600 meter title on Saturday, along with victories in the 3200 relay, and a state record performance in the 3200 meter run on Friday.

Noecker’s performances helped lead the Cedar Catholic boys to a fifth place finish in Class C for the second straight year. Noecker adds the state titles to an already impressive distance running resume in his senior year, as he was already named Gatorade Cross Country Athlete of the Year for the state of Nebraska in the fall.

On the girls side of the Nebraska state tournament, athletes from Crofton and Hartington-Cedar Catholic took home state titles in a pair of events.

Crofton’s Jordyn Arens added to her title collection as she won her third straight 1600 meter run championship on Saturday, adding to her 3200 meter title on Friday. For Cedar Catholic, the Trojan girls team of Faith Christensen, Lauren Bernecker, Grace Reifenrath (Ry-fin-rath) and Laney Kathol won the 1600 meter relay with a time of 4 minutes and 2 seconds.

Led by Arens, Crofton was the highest finishing girls team in the area, as they tied for 6th place in class C.

The Yankton Tappers opened their 2023 South Central League season with a close 11 to 10 victory over Crofton.

Chris Rofe and Mitchell Gullikson had three hits apiece for Yankton, while Samuel Kampshoff picked up the win on the mound. Caden Eymann pitched the final two innings for the Tappers, as he was credited with the save.

The Tappers play again on Thursday, as they host Menno.