Yankton Post 12 began the 2025 South Dakota Class A Senior Legion Baseball State Tournament with a loss yesterday, falling to Harrisburg Post 45 8-0.

Yankton recorded five hits as a team, all from different players, led by doubles from Beck Ryken and Easton Feser.

The lower-seeded team won three of the four games on the first day of the tournament. #1 Rapid City Post 22, #2 Yankton Post 12, and #4 Brandon Valley Post 131 all were defeated in round one.

Yankton will play Pierre Post 8 at 1:00 PM this afternoon in an elimination game. Coverage will be available on KYNT beginning at 12:30. Full results from day one and today’s schedule are available below.

Class A Legion State Tournament (Day One Results – 7/29) 

• #1 Rapid City Post 22 lost to #8 Rapid City Post 320 4-1.
• #2 Yankton lost to #7 Harrisburg Post 45 8-0.
• #3 Watertonwn Post 17 defeated #6 Pierre Post 8 5-2.
• #4 Brandon Valley Post 131 lost to Renner Post 307 6-2.

 

Class A Legion State Tournament (Day Two Schedule – 7/30) 

• #1 Rapid City Post 22 vs #4 Brandon Valley @ 10:00 AM (Elimination Game)
• #2 Yankton Post 12 vs #6 Pierre Post 8 @ 1:00 PM (Elimination Game)
• #5 Renner Post 307 vs #8 Rapid City Post 320 @ 4:00 PM.
• #3 Watertown Post 17 vs #7 Harrisburg Post 45 @ 7:00 PM.

 

The Yankton Lakers will host the Class A Amateur Baseball South District tournament at Riverside Field this weekend. 

The Lakers were undefeated in the regular season and are the #2 seed in the tournament this year.

Day one of the tournament is on Friday. The #1 Harriburg Woodies will face the #4 Mitchell Aces first at 5:00 PM, with #2 Yankton vs the #3 Sioux Falls Brewers scheduled for 8:00 PM. 

The tournament will run through Saturday evening, with the top two teams earning a spot in the Class A State Tournament.

The Tabor Bluebirds advanced to the District 6B Championship game last night with an 11-8 win over Lesterville last night.

Riley Rothschadl led Tabor with three hits and four RBIs, including a three-run home run in the seventh inning.

Lesterville will take on Crofton tomorrow, with the winner being one of the teams to represent District 6B in the Class B state tournament. Tabor will play either Irene or Wynot in the district championship, as their matchup was moved to Thursday due to the weather. Tournament results so far and the updated schedule are available below.

 

District 6B Amateur Baseball Tournament:

Thursday, July 24th:

• G1: #4 Lesterville defeated #5 Crofton 10-7.

Friday, July 25th:

• G2: #3 Freeman lost to #6 Irene 10-8.
• G3: #2 Wynot defeated #7 Menno 4-0.

Sunday, July 27th:

• G4: #5 Crofton defeated #7 Menno 13-8 (Menno is eliminated).

Tuesday, July 29th:

• G5: #1 Tabor defeated #4 Lesterville 11-8.
• G6: #2 Wynot vs #6 Irene was postponed to Thursday due to the weather.

Thursday, July 31st:

• G6: #2 Wynot vs #6 Irene (Make-up from Tuesday).
• G7: #5 Crofton vs #4 Lesterville (Winner is Rep #2 or #3, loser is eliminated).

Friday, August 1st:

 

• G8: #3 Freeman vs G6 Loser (Winner is Rep #2 or #3, loser is eliminated).

 

Saturday, August 2nd:

• G9: Tabor vs G6 Winner (Winner is District Champ; Loser is Rep #1)

 

A pair of South Dakota Coyotes have been named to the preseason watchlist for the Walter Payton FCS Player of the Year Award, quarterback Aidan Bouman and running back Charles Pierre Jr.

Bouman threw for just under 3,000 yards last season, leading USD to an FCS Playoff Semifinal appearance. Bouman has also been selected to two preseason All-American teams heading into the season, earning first-team honors from FCS Football Central and second-team recognition from STATS Perform.

Pierre has also earned Preseason first-team All-American honors from FCS Football Central as well as second-team recognition from STATS Perform, heading into his Junior year. Pierre Jr. was the first Coyote to rush for 1,000 yards in a season in the Division I FCS era last season, leading the Missouri Valley Football Conference (MVFC) with 1,244 yards on the season with 16 rushing scores.

 

South Dakota State running back Julius Loughridge is the lone Jackrabbit on this year’s Walter Payton Award Watchlist.

Loughridge transferred to SDSU in the offseason after a stellar stint at Fordham, rushing for 3,005 yards over three seasons.

The Walter Payton Award is presented annually to the top offensive player in the Football Championship Subdivision.

 

University of South Dakota Track athlete Sara Reifenrath will represent the Coyotes this weekend at the USA Track and Field Championships in Eugene, Oregon.

Reifenrath, a 23-time Summit League Champion, is set to race in the 400 at the event. The semifinal of the 400 is scheduled for 4:47 p.m. local (Pacific) time, or 6:47 p.m. Central Time, Friday. With the final slated for 1:03 p.m. Pacific (3:03 p.m. Central) Saturday.

Three other athletes competing at the Championships have ties to USD. Alums Chris Nilsen and Emily Grove are set to compete in the men’s and women’s pole vault, while Assistant Coach Maggie Ewen is set to compete in the women’s shot put.