MITCHELL, S.D. — A three-run eighth inning propelled the Clark Traders to a comeback victory over the Wessington Springs Owls in the opening round of the South Dakota Amateur Class B Baseball Tournament.
Trailing 5-3 entering the bottom of the eighth, Clark sparked its game-winning rally with a sacrifice fly to right field by Jack Heesch. Two plays later, Zach Toben reached on an error to score the tying run. Jakob Steen then laid down a sacrifice bunt that brought home the decisive run, putting the Traders ahead for good.
Clark gathered six hits on the night, led by Marik Junker, who finished 2-for-3 with an RBI. Toben also went 2-for-3 while driving in two runs.
On the mound, Watson Grantham started for Clark, yielding four runs on six hits and three walks over five innings. Heesch earned the win in relief, holding the Owls to one run on two hits while striking out four and walking three.
Wessington Springs out-hit Clark 8-6, led by Blaze Herdman’s 2-for-4 performance with two RBIs. Terrek Butterfield also added two hits for the Owls.
Layne Cotton took the loss in relief for Wessington Springs, allowing three runs on four hits with six strikeouts. Starter Bubba Peterson gave up three runs on two hits, striking out three and walking four.
Clark advances to face the Tabor Bluebirds in the second round at 5:30 p.m. Aug. 11.
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