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On Monday, July 24, Wagner’s Post 7913 VFW 16U Teener team began their post-season play against Tri-Valley at Jack Hennies Field.

Carter Cournoyer got the nod to open this best of three series to see who would make the state tournament and he did not disappoint as he hurled a complete game shutout as Wagner prevailed by a 2-0 score. Carter needed 96 pitches to earn the win. He gave up three hits, two walks, and one hit batsman while striking out 11 batters.

Wagner did just enough offensively to pull this one out. Carter would drive in the first run of the game in the bottom of the first with a sacrifice fly that scored Javian Pesicka who had reached via a base on balls.

In the fifth inning, a hit batter, a walk, and a single loaded the bases with no one out. Brady Cournoyer then knocked in a run with a groundout to shortstop.

Wagner finished with five hits in the game. One each by Carter Cournoyer, Pesicka, Frank Soukup, Daniel Soukup, and Trasin Dilts.

The series then shifted to Colton, SD, where a state tournament representative would be decided. Wagner needed to win one game to advance. Tri-Valley would need to win two games.

We would turn to Brady Cournoyer to start things off on the mound. Both teams would be held scoreless through the first two innings. Wagner got on the board in the 3rd inning with an RBI groundout by Frank Soukup which scored Landon Mudder.

Tri-Valley answered back with two runs of their own in the bottom half of the 3rd on a walk, an error, and a single.

Wagner came back with three in the next inning. Preston Mc-Fayden walloped a triple into left-center field to start things off. RBI singles from the Avon contingent of Landon Mudder and Tyler Tjeerdsma and a groundout from Brady Cournoyer pushed Wagner back in front by a 4-2 score.

A couple of hit batters and a couple of singles helped Tri-Valley even the score at the end of four innings.

Wagner would get a run in the top of the 5th as Carter Cournoyer grounded into a bases loaded fielder’s choice. We would hold that one run advantage till the final frame.

Frank Soukup took over the pitching duties in the 5th inning and got by unscathed in that one and the 6th with the help of some outstanding plays in the field. One in particular by Tjeerdsma who made a diving grab in the 6th for the third out to preserve the lead.

The first pitch of the bottom of the 7th was a groundball that was misplayed for an error. The next two batters would strikeout. After a stolen base the next hitter would single, driving in the tying run. Then a misplayed line drive to the outfield allowed the winning run to score and a much deflated Wagner team was on to game two of the night.

Brady would go four innings giving up four runs, two earned, on four hits, a walk, and two hit batsmen while striking out two. Soukup was the tough luck pitcher of record in this one as he went 2.2 innings. He gave up two unearned runs on five hits and a walk while striking out four.

At the plate Joey Cournoyer was the only player with multiple hits as he collected two singles. Mudder, Tjeerdsma, Pesicka, Mc-Fayden, and Carter Cournoyer had one apiece.

Things started well for Wagner in this third and deciding game as Pesicka led off with a single, advancing to second on an error by the right fielder. Frank Soukup promptly doubled on the next pitch and would later come around to score on a Carter Cournoyer single. We tacked on one more in the 2nd as Frank would drive in Mudder with a single.

Tri-Valley used some walks, hit batsmen, and stolen bases to get one run each in the 3rd and 4th innings.

Frank Soukup again came on to pitch in the 5th inning. Two singles, a walk, an error, and a sacrifice fly gave Tri-Valley a 4-3 lead. They tacked on an insurance run in the bottom of the 6th. Then it was down to the last at bat for Wagner. Things started out well as the first three batters all reached by a walk. This prompted a pitching change and two strikeouts and a soft line drive to the first baseman ended the 16U’s chance to appear in the state tournament for the third year in a row.

Pesicka was the starter in this game. He lasted four innings giving up two earned runs on four hits and four walks while hitting two batters and striking out four. Once again, Frank Soukup finished things up. He pitched two innings allowing three runs, two being earned on three hits and one walk.

He struck out three batters as well.

At the plate Carter Cournoyer and Frank Soukup each collected two hits. Pesicka and Tjeerdsman added one each. While the pitching and defense weren’t perfect, it was the bats that let us down. Too many runners left on base, a combined 23 for the two games lost. The opportunities were there, we just couldn’t cash them in.

It was a tough night for these guys to say the least. But they gave it their all and that’s all we can ask. Once again, Coach Sam Metzger and I want to thank the parents who allow their kids to play this game. We greatly appreciate all that you do. Thanks also goes out to VFW Post 7319 as without them we wouldn’t be able to do this. And lastly, to the players who gave us their time and efforts this season. We hope you had an enjoyable season and that we’ll see you all out next year.