RAPID CITY, S.D. – Rapid City Post 320 rallied from a three-run deficit with three runs in the seventh inning, including Tegan Sayles’ go-ahead two-run home run, to defeat Palace City Post 18, 6-5, on Thursday night and complete a two-game sweep in the Class A American Legion baseball playoff series.
Palace City built a 5-2 lead after four innings behind RBI doubles from Jaxson Hartman and Kaiden Allen in the first inning, followed by RBI singles from Jacob Ebert and Carter McCormick in the fourth.
After Rapid City cut the deficit to one in the sixth, Sayles delivered the decisive homer in the seventh after Palace City starter Carter McCormick reached the pitch limit.
McCormick drove in two runs at the plate and pitched six innings, allowing five runs, two earned, while striking out four. Dawson Adams, Hartman and Allen each recorded two hits as Palace City out-hit Rapid City 9-5 in the loss.
The defeat ends Post 18’s inaugural season with a 20-24 record, while Post 320 advances to the Class A state tournament beginning Tuesday in Rapid City.
CLASS A LEGION BASEBALL REGIONS – THURSDAY
No. 2 Sioux Falls West 6, No. 15 Huron 1 – SFW wins the series 2-0, Wednesday
No. 3 Yankton 8, No. 14 Aberdeen 1 – Yankton wins the series 2-0
No. 4 Brandon Valley 11, No. 13 Spearfish 2 – Brandon Valley wins the series 2-0
No. 12 Sioux Falls East 8, No. 5 Brookings 6
No. 5 Brookings 7, No. 12 Sioux Falls East 1 – Brookings wins the series 2-1
No. 6 Rapid City Post 320 6, No. 11 Palace City 5 – Rapid City wins the series 2-0
No. 10 Watertown 2, No. 7 Pierre 0 – Watertown wins the series 2-0
No. 9 Renner 10, No. 8 Harrisburg 1
No. 8 Harrisburg 7, No. 9 Renner 0 – Harrisburg wins the series 2-1