The Region 1A 16U Teener tournament was hosted in Wagner July 25-27. In addition to Wagner, Chamberlain, Madison Gold, and Wessington Springs would also be competing for a spot in the state tournament.

The first game would pit Wagner against Chamberlain. Both teams would throw their ace in this one as Carter Cournoyer would get the nod for Wagner and Dakota Munger would hurl for Chamberlain. And as was expected, runs were at a premium in this contest.

A run would not cross the plate until the top of the 5th inning when a two-out single by Sawyer Donovan would plate a run for Chamberlain. Wagner would not answer back until the bottom of the sixth. Number nine hitter Carlin Hopkins worked the count full before lining a double into left field. This hit served to breathe some life into the boys, something that was desperately needed at this point. Carlin would then advance to third on a Matt Link groundout. After a strikeout Ted Slaba would hit a bounding ball between short and second which would find its way under the shortstop’s glove allowing the tying run to score. As Cournoyer reached his pitch limit in the sixth inning, Link would then come on to pitch the seventh frame and he made quick work of three Chamberlain batters with getting groundout and two punchouts.

Chamberlain would bring a new pitcher out to start the 7th inning and he was immediately met with a double down the left field line by catcher Hunter Loeffler. He would advance to third on a wild pitch. Colby Krcil would draw a walk which prompted the Chamberlain coaching staff to intentionally walk Javian Pesicka to load the bases. This brought Frank Soukup to the plate and he would end it on walk-off walk sending Wagner into the semifinal game.

Both starting pitchers were outstanding. Cournoyer would allow one earned run over his six innings of work on four hits while striking out ten and walking one. He was assisted by some stellar defensive plays, particularly by centerfielder Frank Soukup as he made three catches on line drives that were not easy put outs. For the record, 15 of the 18 outs recorded by Munger came via the strikeout.

Wagner would only collect three hits in this game. Aside from the aforementioned doubles, Slaba would slap a single to right field to account for the other Wagner hit.

On Tuesday, Wagner would face the Madison Gold team with the winner being assured a spot in the state tournament.

Wagner would plate a run in the first inning without the benefit of a hit as they used two walks, a hit batsman, and a wild pitch to score the first run of the game. The score would remain 1-0 until the top of the 4th (Wagner was the visiting team in this game) when Wagner would push across four more runs to take a 5-0 lead. Again, they took advantage of free passes as three of the four runners would reach by way of bases on balls. Link would have the first big two-out hit of this inning as he laced a single up the middle with runners on first and third. Following a walk to Corbin Carda, Slaba came to the plate and ripped a bases clearing double over the leftfielder’s head.

Madison would scratch a run across in the bottom of the 4th, but Wagner answered right back with a run in the 5th as a Frank Soukup ground out plated Hunter Loeffler. Madison did score two in the bottom half of the inning to bring the score to 6-3 heading into the 6th frame. Wagner would score one run this inning as courtesy runner Preston McFayden would score on a wild pitch.

After a scoreless sixth for Madison, Wagner would get what turned out to be some much-needed breathing room as they used three singles, three walks, and a hit batsman to score four runs to take a commanding 11-3 lead.

Madison wouldn’t go down without a fight, though, as three of the first four batters in the bottom of the 7th would reach and score, cutting Wagner’s lead to five. Matt Link would come on to settle things down as he would retire the final two batters on five pitches to seal the victory and send the boys to their second state tournament in as many years.

Ted Slaba started on the mound and went 6.1 innings giving up six earned runs on 13 hits while striking out two and walking one.

Link and Loeffler had two hits each with both collecting an RBI. Link would score twice and Loeffler once. Cournoyer and Krcil each had a hit and an RBI while Carda and Slaba each had a hit as well.

A big difference maker in this game were the free passes allowed. Madison would outhit Wagner 13-8 but Madison walked or hit 15 Wagner batters with seven of those runners eventually coming around to score. Wagner only allowed one walk and hit no one.

In the third and final game in this region tournament Wagner would once again take on Madison Gold as Madison would defeat Chamberlain to come back through the loser’s bracket. Thus, Madison would have to defeat Wagner twice to claim the championship.

Wagner would take an early 2-0 lead in this game as they once again took advantage of free passes as Link and Carda led off with a hit by pitch and a walk, respectively. Slaba would follow that up with an infield single to load the bases. Link would score on a wild pitch while Carda would score on a Loeffler groundout.

Wagner would add on to their lead in the 2nd as Daniel Soukup, back from a Wisconsin wedding (a relative’s, not his own), would draw a two-out walk and would eventually be driven in by a Carda single.

Madison would then threaten in the top of the third. With runners on 1st and 3rd they would hit into an unconventional 5-4-2 double play to end the inning.

A bit of controversy would ensue after the third inning as to some misunderstandings with pitch count rules. Sparing the details, Matt Link had to leave the mound after three innings pitched. Javian Pesicka would then come on to pitch in the top of the 4th inning. This was a tough situation for Javian to be put in and things didn’t start out too well as Madison would use three walks, two hits and an error to tie the score at three. Things could have been worse as Madison had the bases loaded with one out, but Pesicka got their number three hitter to bounce into a 5-3 double play, keeping the score tied.

The 5th inning would be scoreless for both teams and Pesicka would set the visitors down 1-2-3 in the 6th. Daniel Soukup would lead off the bottom of the 6th with a single and after a flyout, would advance to 2nd on Carda’s second single of the game. For a moment, things looked bleak as Slaba would hit what appeared to be a double play ball to the shortstop, but after a juggle and toss to the second baseman, the throw to first sailed wide and Soukup would come around to score to give Wagner the slimmest of margins heading into the final frame.

The 7th started out with the leadoff batter singling solidly up the middle. A comebacker to the pitcher would advance him to second. Pesicka would then execute a beautiful pickoff move and catch the runner too far off the bag and he would be tagged out at third base for a huge out. The final batter for Madison would be set down on strikes, thus sealing the Region 1A Championship for Wagner.

Link would pitch three innings giving up no runs on three hits and two walks while striking out four. Pesicka would end up settling down after that 4th inning, facing the minimum over his final three frames. He would give up three runs, two earned, on three hits while walking three and striking out four. I can’t say enough about the job Javian did on the mound. He really buckled down and gave his team a strong effort in a less than ideal situation.

Wagner was led offensively by Carda as he collected two hits and an RBI. Cournoyer would also have two hits for the game. Slaba, Pesicka, and Soukup would each have one hit. Daniel Soukup would reach base all three times up to bat and would score two of our four runs. Pretty good production out of the number nine spot.

Wagner will play the nightcap on the first day of the state tournament on Friday, August 5th. They will play the host team, Dakota Valley, at 7:30. If you are unable to make it to the game, all state tournament games will be livestreamed. One can find these games on YouTube by searching Dakota Valley Baseball.