Local Sports – Wednesday, July 15, 2026

Yankton Post 12 split their Class A Legion Baseball doubleheader against Mitchell last night.

Yankton was dominant in game one, claiming a 10-0 win. Sam Gokie and Simon Kampshoff combined for six hits, five RBIs, and three runs scored. Gokie struck out seven batters for the complete game shutout on the mound.

A five-run sixth inning for Mitchell sunk Yankton in game two, 12-5. Yankton were held to just two hits as a team, with Kampshoff adding a pair of RBIs to his total.

Post 12 wraps up their regular season tomorrow evening, hosting Renner in a doubleheader. Game one is scheduled for 5:00 PM, with pregame coverage on KYNT and KYNTV beginning at 4:15.

South Dakota’s Charles Pierre Jr and South Dakota State’s Chase Mason have both been named to the preseason Walter Payton Award watchlist.

Pierre is a former First Team All-MVFC back, who was the first Coyote in the Division I FCS era to rush for 1,000 yards in a season. In his last full season, 2024, He ran for 1,244 yards and 16 touchdowns.

Mason is coming off an injury shortened 2025 campaign that saw the Hurley native appear in nine games for SDSU. Mason led SDSU to an 8-1 record in his starts and accounted for 21 touchdowns, 15 passing and six rushing. He also completed 64.9 percent of his passes for 2,005 yards.

Three other members of the Missouri Valley Football Conference were also named to the 30-player watchlist, Beau Brungard (QB, Youngstown State), DJ Williams (QB, Southern Illinois), and Victor Dawson (RB, Illinois State).

The Walter Payton Award honors the national offensive player of the year in FCS college football, and is considered the FCS version of the Heisman Trophy.

The Missouri Valley Football Conference Preseason Poll was released yesterday, with South Dakota State ranked first for the third time in the last four years.

The Jackrabbits claimed 28 of 36 possible first place votes, for 312 total points, followed by Illinois State with 256.

The University of South Dakota was picked fifth in the poll under first year head coach Matt Vitzhum (Vit-zum), earning two first place votes and 196 points.

2026 MVFC Preseason Poll (First Place Votes in Parentheses):

South Dakota State (28) – 312 points
Illinois State (3) – 256 points
Youngstown State – 235 points
North Dakota (2) – 211 points
South Dakota (2) – 196 points
Southern Illinois (1) – 186 points
Northern Iowa – 99 points
Indiana State – 80 points
Murray State – 45 points

South Dakota State Linebacker Cullen McShane is one of 30 FCS athletes named to the Buck Buchanan Award preseason watchlist, presented each year to the top defensive player in the FCS.

In 2025, McShane ranked second on the Jackrabbits’ squad with 88 total tackles. He added 7.5 tackles for loss, a sack and a forced fumble en route to being named to the all-Missouri Valley Football Conference Second Team.

McShane was one of five MVFC players named to this season’s watchlist, joined by Lance Rucker (DL, North Dakota), Michael Wells (DL, Youngstown State), Tye Niekamp (LB, Illinois State), and Dylan Rowsey (DB, Murray State).

Three games remain in the South Central Amateur Baseball League regular season, with two scheduled for tomorrow night.

Lesterville and Menno will battle in Lesterville, while Tabor will host Irene. Tomorrow’s games will be the last of the regular season for all four teams.

All games are scheduled to begin at 7:30 PM tomorrow night. The SCL regular season officially concludes on Sunday when Freeman hosts Wynot.

South Central League Standings: