Rattlers place 5th in 12u VFW Class B State Baseball Tournament

  • ABOVE: Members of the Hot Springs Rattlers 12u baseball team stand at attention as the National Anthem is played while the American Legion honor guard presents the colors during opening ceremonies last Friday morning. RIGHT: After the game ball was delivered by Black HIlls Life Flight, Hot Springs Mayor Bob Nelson throws out the first pitch of the tournament. Photos by Brett Nachtigall/Fall River County Herald-Star
    ABOVE: Members of the Hot Springs Rattlers 12u baseball team stand at attention as the National Anthem is played while the American Legion honor guard presents the colors during opening ceremonies last Friday morning. RIGHT: After the game ball was delivered by Black HIlls Life Flight, Hot Springs Mayor Bob Nelson throws out the first pitch of the tournament. Photos by Brett Nachtigall/Fall River County Herald-Star
  • After fielding a ground ball, third baseman Cooper Norton applies the tag on a Parkston baserunner during Hot Springs opening game of the tournament on Friday, July 11.
    After fielding a ground ball, third baseman Cooper Norton applies the tag on a Parkston baserunner during Hot Springs opening game of the tournament on Friday, July 11.

    Games played at Butler Park in Hot Springs

    HOT SPRINGS – Butler Park was home to a lot of baseball this past weekend as the 12u Hot Springs Rattlers hosted the South Dakota VFW Class B Charlie Division State Championship.

    The tournament featured a total of eight teams from across the state competing in pool play games on Friday and Saturday, July 11-12, followed by bracket play on Sunday, July 13, where Parkston held off a furious Platte/Geddes comeback attempt to win the state title. Platte/Geddes had the go ahead run at the plate but a line out double play to the third basemen ended the game and sent Parkston home with the championship title following a 13-11 win.

    Flandreau picked up 3rd place in an exciting extra innings win over Scotland/ Menno 11-7, while Hot Springs finished in fifth place after winning both of their bracket play games on Sunday, first defeating Parker by a score of 7-4 and then Bon Homme 20-8. Garretson also competed in the tournament and placed eighth.

    The three-day festivities were kicked off with an impressive opening ceremony on Friday morning, which saw all eight teams getting introduced on the Legion Field at Butler Park, followed by one of the games balls being delivered to the complex by a Black Hills Life Flight helicopter, which was then thrown by Hot Springs Mayor Bob Nelson for the first pitch of the tournament.

    The Hot Springs Rattlers earned a 3-3 tournament record which helped them to a 29-9 overall season record. Following is a summary of the team’s six games, provided by assistant coach Jess Naze.

    The 12u Rattlers opened up the SD VFW 12u Class B Charlie Division tournament vs Parkston losing by a score of 2-5. Peter Noteboom was the losing pitcher in relief giving up 2 unearned runs. Offensively the Rattlers were led by Ian Thornton 1 for 2 with 2 RBI’s and Cash Haskvitz 1 for 2 with 1 run scored.

    Game two saw the Rattlers get their first win of the tournament over Flandreau with an exciting 6-5 comeback win with a walk-off double by Gideon Fees. The winning pitcher in relief was Tanner Naze striking out one and giving up zero runs. Offensively the team was led by Naze 2 for 3 (double) with 2RBI’s and 2 runs scored, Cash Haskvitz 2 for 3 with 2 RBI’s and 1 run scored, and Jaxon Eslinger 2 for 3 with two runs scored.

    Game three saw one of the best pitching matchups of the whole tournament with Jaxon Eslinger vs Platte-Geddes ace Briggs Veurink. The Rattlers dropped a close one 5-4. Eslinger took the loss, giving up 3 earned (2 unearned) runs with 10 strikeouts. Offensively the team was led by Eslinger 2 for 3 with 1 run scored, Cash Haskvitz 2 for 3 with 2 RBI’s, and Gideon Fees 1 for 2 (double) with a base-on-balls and 2 RBI’s.

    Game four of the tournament the Rattler had a tough game coming off the heartbreak lose to Platte-Geddes losing to Bon Homme 11-23. Tanner Naze took the loss in the game giving up 3 earned (5 unearned) runs with 1 strikeout before having to exit the game after 1 2/3 innings with an arm injury. Offensively the Rattlers were led by Gideon Fees 3 for 3 (double) with 3 runs scored and 2 RBI’s, Casen Humbracht 2 for 2 with 2 RBI’s and 1 run scored, and Brody Whitcher 2 for 2 with 1 RBI.

    With a 1-3 record in pool play the Rattlers were put into the Consolation Bracket on Sunday. In there opening game the Rattlers defeated Parker by score 0f 7-4. Cash Haskvitz was the winning pitcher giving up 4 earned runs with 10 strikeouts. Cooper Norton picked up the save in relief striking out 1 in the final inning. Offensively the team was led by Norton 2 for 3 (double) with 1 RBI and 1 run scored, Gideon Fees 2 for 3 with 3 RBI’s and 1 run scored, and Tanner Naze 1 for 3 with 1 runs scored and 1 RBI.

    In the Consolation Championship game the Rattlers avenged their previous pool play loss vs Bon Homme. Taking home 5th place in State with a 20-8 victory. The winning pitcher for the Rattlers was Gideon Fees giving up 8 earned runs with 1 strikeout. Offensively the Rattlers were led by Fees 4 for 4 with 5 RBI’s and 3 runs scored, Tanner Naze 2 for 4 (double) with 4 RBI’s and 1 run scored, and Camdin Allen 1 for 3 with a sacrifice fly, 3 RBI’s and 1 run scored.