WEBSTER, S.D. — Clark/Willow Lake forced a winner-take-all championship game in the Region 6B tournament, but a late comeback fell just short as Volga secured a 9-7 victory in Game 9 to claim the region title and advance to the state tournament.
Game 8: Clark/Willow Lake 6, Volga 4
Deadlocked at 3-3 heading into the sixth inning, Jakob Steen broke the tie with a clutch double, driving in Cooper Pommer and Braden Danzeisen to put the Dinos ahead 5-3. Damian Severson followed with a line-drive RBI single to right field to extend the lead to 6-3. Volga added a run in the seventh, but Clark/Willow Lake held on to force a decisive ninth game.
The Dinos pounded out 13 hits in the opener. Cooper Pommer, Steen, Severson, and Bennett Pommer each collected two hits, with Severson driving in three runs.
Will Hovde started on the mound for Clark/Willow Lake, giving up three runs on nine hits over 4 2/3 innings. Cooper Pommer earned the win in relief, holding Volga to one run on two hits over the final 2 1/3 innings.
Wyatt Hardt took the loss for Volga, allowing three runs on eight hits across five innings while also driving in two runs at the plate.
Game 9: Volga 9, Clark/Willow Lake 7
In the decisive finale, Volga built a 9-5 lead entering the bottom of the seventh before the Dinos mounted a fierce rally.
A wild pitch scored one run, and Bennett Pommer grounded out to first to drive in Steen, pulling Clark/Willow Lake within 9-7 with two outs. Another wild pitch moved Severson to third base as the tying run, but a groundout ended the rally and sealed the Region 6B championship for Volga.
Bret Milton led Volga’s 12-hit attack, going 3-for-4 with three RBIs. Regan Schwartz and Isaac Skovlund added two hits and two RBIs apiece. Broden Teske earned the win, striking out three while allowing five runs on five hits over six innings.
Cooper Pommer and Cade Gaikowski each had two hits for Clark/Willow Lake, while Charlie Luvaas and Bennett Pommer drove in two runs each. Cooper Pommer started on the bump, allowing four runs on six hits over 3 2/3 innings while striking out five. Steen and Bennett Pommer combined in relief over the remaining innings.
With the Region 6B title in hand, Volga advances to the 2026 South Dakota American Legion Class B State Baseball Tournament, scheduled for July 31–Aug. 4 in Madison.
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