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Sioux Empire League champs!
Merchants overcome Cubby’s with three runs in 11th
By By Jill Meier
Challenger editor
Challenger editor
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EmailJuly 27. 2010 3:27PM
Brandon Valley received key hits in the 11th inning to overcome a 2-2 tie, as the Merchants scored three runs in the inning to defeat the Brookings Cubby’s 5-2. The win propelled Brandon Valley to the top of the Sioux Empire League standings and the SEL title.
“It’s been a relief as much as it’s been an expectation,” said Bryce Ahrendt, manager of the 17-2 (8-1 SEL).
“I put high expectations on this team, and I expected us to not only win the league championship, but to win a state championship too.”
The Merchants begin their journey toward a state title on Saturday afternoon. Brandon Valley received a first-round bye in the district tourney, and will face the winner of Tuesday’s game between the Renner Roadrunners and the Renner Monarchs. The Monarchs will try to make it three state titles in a row, as they won the Class A amateur title the past two years.
Brandon Valley’s opportunity to win the league title came in the 11th inning when TJ Miller smacked a double that sailed to the centerfield wall. Miller advanced to third on a single by Jose Martinez and then Dan Morrison hit an RBI double to bring in Miller and Martinez. Brandon Mercado offered a sacrifice fly to score Morrison, which was more than enough arsenal to claim the win and the league title.
Trailing by three runs going into the bottom of the 11th, the Cubby’s didn’t go away quietly. Brookings loaded the bases on three consecutive two-out walks in the inning as relief pitcher Nick Bruning allowed an RBI single to Chris Brown but struck out the next batter to end the game.
Brandon Valley had scored in the 10th on Adam Schroeder’s single, but Brookings tied it in the bottom of the inning on Brown’s homer.
James Borges, T.J. Miller and Jose Martinez each had two hits for the Merchants. Tyler Pierson allowed six hits and struck out 10 in 8.1 innings.
“Tyler pitched unbelievable ball,” Ahrendt said.
For Brookings (19-8), Brown had three hits and John Tadlock had two.
BV Merchants 8, Sioux Falls Saints 3
Coming into their final game of the regular season, Ahrendt said the Merchants played relaxed ball in the no-pressure game.
“We won pretty convincingly,” he said. “It was one of those games where the pressure wasn’t on us and anybody could hit that night.”
Ahrendt led the Merchant offense with three hits and James Borges added two. Bruning and Nate Alfson each had a homerun in the win.
The Merchants take a 17-2 record into Saturday’s second round of district action. They’ll face the winner of Tuesday’s game between two Renner teams the Monarchs and Roadrunners at 2 p.m. in Renner.
Ahrendt and the Merchants know they can’t take their first test lightly.
“We can’t look over the Monarchs or Roadrunners, and at this point every team gives you an all-out fight,” Ahrendt said.
“It’s been a relief as much as it’s been an expectation,” said Bryce Ahrendt, manager of the 17-2 (8-1 SEL).
“I put high expectations on this team, and I expected us to not only win the league championship, but to win a state championship too.”
The Merchants begin their journey toward a state title on Saturday afternoon. Brandon Valley received a first-round bye in the district tourney, and will face the winner of Tuesday’s game between the Renner Roadrunners and the Renner Monarchs. The Monarchs will try to make it three state titles in a row, as they won the Class A amateur title the past two years.
Brandon Valley’s opportunity to win the league title came in the 11th inning when TJ Miller smacked a double that sailed to the centerfield wall. Miller advanced to third on a single by Jose Martinez and then Dan Morrison hit an RBI double to bring in Miller and Martinez. Brandon Mercado offered a sacrifice fly to score Morrison, which was more than enough arsenal to claim the win and the league title.
Trailing by three runs going into the bottom of the 11th, the Cubby’s didn’t go away quietly. Brookings loaded the bases on three consecutive two-out walks in the inning as relief pitcher Nick Bruning allowed an RBI single to Chris Brown but struck out the next batter to end the game.
Brandon Valley had scored in the 10th on Adam Schroeder’s single, but Brookings tied it in the bottom of the inning on Brown’s homer.
James Borges, T.J. Miller and Jose Martinez each had two hits for the Merchants. Tyler Pierson allowed six hits and struck out 10 in 8.1 innings.
“Tyler pitched unbelievable ball,” Ahrendt said.
For Brookings (19-8), Brown had three hits and John Tadlock had two.
BV Merchants 8, Sioux Falls Saints 3
Coming into their final game of the regular season, Ahrendt said the Merchants played relaxed ball in the no-pressure game.
“We won pretty convincingly,” he said. “It was one of those games where the pressure wasn’t on us and anybody could hit that night.”
Ahrendt led the Merchant offense with three hits and James Borges added two. Bruning and Nate Alfson each had a homerun in the win.
The Merchants take a 17-2 record into Saturday’s second round of district action. They’ll face the winner of Tuesday’s game between two Renner teams the Monarchs and Roadrunners at 2 p.m. in Renner.
Ahrendt and the Merchants know they can’t take their first test lightly.
“We can’t look over the Monarchs or Roadrunners, and at this point every team gives you an all-out fight,” Ahrendt said.
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BV Merchant pitcher Ezra Campbell has been one of the keys to the amatuer team's success this season. The Merchants claimed the Sioux Empire League title outright on July 20 when they defeated the Brookings Cubby's 5-2, improving their season mark to 16-2. The Merchants open district play at 2 p.m. on Saturday, July 31, where they'll face the winner of the Renner Monarchs/Renner Roadrunners game. The game will be played in Renner. Photo by Peggy Mercado |  |
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