The Belle Fourche Varsity/SR Broncs used timely hitting, patient at-bats and a seven-run sixth inning to pull away for a convincing 14-4 victory over Post 240 Sr. on Tuesday in the South Dakota Legion Region 7B Semifinals.
Despite falling behind early, the Broncs quickly regained control and never looked back, collecting 12 hits while taking advantage of several Post 240 defensive miscues to secure their spot in the next round.
Belle Fourche got on the board first in the opening inning when an error allowed a run to score. Post 240 answered in the bottom half of the frame, grabbing a 2-1 lead behind RBI hits from Caysen Soderlin and Gavin Risse. Soderlin tripled down the right-field line before Risse followed with an RBI single to left.
The Broncs responded immediately with a four-run second inning. Raif Parmeter delivered an RBI single, another Post 240 error brought home two more runs, and Trig Thomsen capped the rally with an RBI double to put Belle Fourche ahead 5-2.
Belle Fourche added to its advantage in the third when Graham VanderBoom singled home a run, extending the lead to 6-2. Post 240 trimmed the deficit in the bottom of the inning when Soderlin launched a solo home run to center field, making it 6-3.
The game remained within reach until the Broncs broke it open in the sixth. Belle Fourche erupted for seven runs on four hits during the decisive inning. Tate Thomsen started the scoring with an RBI double, Urijah Hamilton drew a bases-loaded walk, VanderBoom added an RBI single, an error brought in three more runs, and Caeyn Howard capped the inning with an RBI single.
Howard earned the victory on the mound for Belle Fourche, working five innings while allowing four runs on nine hits. He struck out eight and walked just one. Trig Thomsen and VanderBoom each tossed a scoreless inning in relief to close out the win.
Post 240 starter Hayden Risse suffered the loss after allowing six runs, only one of them earned, on seven hits over four innings. He struck out two and walked three.
The Broncs’ offense was balanced throughout the lineup. Parmeter, Howard, Thomsen and VanderBoom each recorded two hits. VanderBoom and Gavin Pearson drove in two runs apiece, while Belle Fourche drew eight walks as a team. Daven Kracht and Carsyn Hahne each worked two free passes, and Howard and Pearson both stole multiple bases.
Post 240 finished with 11 hits. Soderlin paced the offense, going 2-for-3 with a triple, a home run and two RBIs. Risse added three hits and two stolen bases in a strong individual performance.
