MITCHELL, S.D. – A rematch of last year’s state championship game had the same results as Alexandria and Jed Schmidt shutout the Canova Gang 2-0 in the much anticipated first round matchup early on Friday at Cadwell Park.
Schmidt allowed just four hits and a walk while striking out seven hitters as the Angels ace beat Canova in the state tournament for the second straight year after defeating the Gang in the 2020 state title game, 11-3.
An Aaron Groenweg double scored Jordan Gau from first to get Alexandria on the board in the 2nd inning. The Angels would add an insurance run in the 8th with a Groenweg home run to left. Groenweg, a pickup player from Corsica/Stickney, would go 2-for-3 with at 2B, HR, walk, run and RBI.
Tery Krier pitched well for Canova, giving up just the two runs over eight innings along with eight hits and three strikeouts.
Kendall Gassman had two of the four hits for Canova, who ends the season with a 20-4 record and will not reach at least the semifinals for the first time since 2017.
Alexandria (16-3) will play Volga on Monday night at 8 pm, after the Cormorants defeated Crofton, Neb., 3-2 on Friday afternoon.