Spearfish Post 164 proved it can compete with one of South Dakota’s top American Legion baseball teams Tuesday, earning a doubleheader split against second-ranked Yankton Post 12. Post 164 rallied for a 4-3 victory in the opener before dropping a hard-fought 4-3 decision in the nightcap.
Spearfish Rallies Past No. 2 Yankton in Opener
Post 164 overcame an early three-run deficit and used a seventh-inning Yankton error to secure a 4-3 victory in game one.
Yankton built a 3-0 lead through two innings before Spearfish battled back, taking advantage of a Post 12 error in the sixth inning to tie the game at 3-3. The go-ahead run crossed the plate in the seventh when another Yankton miscue allowed Spearfish to take its first lead of the game.
Sean Sewell delivered a standout performance on the mound, earning the win after allowing five hits and three runs — just one earned — over six innings. The right-hander struck out seven and walked two against one of the state’s most potent lineups.
Spearfish collected five hits, with Sewell, Tucker Olson, Jack Scharf, Walker Viessman, and Tucker Viessman each recording one. Post 164 also turned a double play defensively.
Yankton Responds Late in Game Two
The nightcap was another tight contest, with Spearfish carrying a two-run lead into the sixth inning before Yankton rallied for a 4-3 victory.
After Yankton scored first in the third, Olson tied the game with an RBI groundout in the fourth. Spearfish then surged ahead 3-1 in the sixth when Olson and Scharf each delivered RBI singles.
The second-ranked Bucks answered immediately with three runs in the bottom half of the inning. An RBI single by Easton Feser, a bases-loaded walk, and a Spearfish error proved to be the difference.
Walker Viessman relieved Tucker Viessman and was charged with the loss. Tucker Viessman started on the mound for Post 164 and turned in a strong outing, allowing two runs on three hits over five innings while striking out three and walking none. Walker Viessman came on in relief in the sixth inning and took the loss after Yankton scored the go-ahead runs, allowing two runs (one earned) while striking out one.
Despite the loss, Post 164 outhit Yankton 6-4. Tucker Olson, Darin Crooks, Jack Scharf, Walker Viessman, Bray Bowar and Tucker Viessman each collected a hit. Olson paced the offense with two RBIs, including an RBI single during Spearfish’s two-run sixth inning that gave Post 164 a 3-1 advantage before the Bucks rallied.
Up Next
The split against the No. 2-ranked Bucks gives Post 164 momentum heading into Wednesday’s road matchup with another top-five team: No. 4-ranked Brandon Valley Post 131. Against one of the state’s premier programs, Spearfish showed it can compete with anyone, winning one one-run game and narrowly missing a sweep.
Game Replays, coutesy of KYNT 102.1 & 1450 and KYNTV: https://www.youtube.com/live/vDlwpnW0y7I?si=5ogOS4pFrDCDR-99
