HOT SPRINGS – Last week, on Thursday and Friday, July 16-17, the Hot Springs Post 71 baseball team hosted the 7B Legion Jr. Prep 14u Regional tournament, which saw the local squad finish in second place with a 2-2 behind undefeated Region Champion Winner who will now move onto the SD State Class B Legion 14u Tournament next weekend in Vermillion.
In Game 1, Hot Springs bats exploded in defeating Chamberlain 32-7. Tanner Naze was the winning pitcher allowing 1 earned run with 2 strikeouts. Offensively the team was led by Cylus Rapp 3 for 3 (triple) with 2 hit-by-pitch, 3 RBI’s, and 5 runs scored, Ian Thornton 3 for 4 (2 doubles) with 1 hit-by-pitch, 5 RBI’s, and 3 runs scored, and Cash Haskvitz 2 for 5 (double) with a base-on-balls, 3 RBI’s, and 2 runs scored.
Game 2 saw Hot Springs bats shutdown with a no hitter by Winner in a 0-12 defeat. Cash Haskvitz was the losing pitcher allowing 4 earned runs with 7 strikeouts.
Game 3, Hot Springs defeated Lyman County 18-7. Ian Thornton was the winning pitcher allowing 4 earned runs with 2 strikeouts. Offensively the team was led by Tanner Naze 2 for 4 with a base-onballs, hit-by-pitch, 2 RBI’s, and 3 runs scored, Cooper Norton 2 for 4 with a 2 base-on-balls, 1 RBI, and 2 runs scored, and Xander Shaw 2 for 5 with 1 RBI, and 2 runs scored.
In Game 4, Hot Springs was eliminated in the championship game via a rematch vs Winner in the double elimination tournament 3-18. Cylus Rapp was the losing pitcher giving up 1 earned run. Offensively Hot Springs was only able to get two hits off of strong Winner pitching. Cash Haskvitz and Cooper Norton had the hits with Haskvitz scoring 2 of the three Hot Springs runs. Tanner Naze had 1 RBI and a sac bunt for all the offense in the game for Post 71.
Prior to hosting the regional tournament, Post 71 traveled to Aurora, Colo., and played in the Colorado Championships on July 10-12, where the team went 0-4.
In Game 1, Post 71 faced the eventual tournament champion Yards Dawgs from Parker, CO losing 0-11. Cash Haskvitz was the losing pitcher allowing 10 earned runs with 3 strikeouts in a complete game. Post 71 bats were shut down by a strong pitching with Tanner Naze getting the lone hit.
Game 2, Hot Springs fell to ONE6 Performance Baseball from Arvada, CO 4-8. Gideon Fees was the losing pitcher giving up 8 earned runs with 1 strikeout. Offensively the team was led by Xander Shaw 1 for 2 with a base-on-balls, 1 RBI, and 1 run scored, and Ian Thornton 1 for 3 with 1 run scored.
Game 3 Post 71 fell to the NextGen Guardians from Centennial, CO 0-13. Tanner Naze was the losing pitcher giving up 6 earned runs with 2 strikeouts going a complete game. Offensively the team was led by Sahen Sexton and Ian Thornton with both going 1 for 1 with a base-on-balls.
In the final game of the tournament, Hot Springs was no hit by Elite Baseball from Golden, CO 0-15 loss. Xander Shaw was the losing pitcher going a complete game allowing 7 earned runs and had 3 strikeouts.
Hot Springs wrapped up its 2026 summer season on Tuesday, July 21 in Spearfish.