RAPID CITY, S.D. – Rapid City Post 320 used a seven-run second inning to take control and defeated Palace City Post 18, 13-4 on Wednesday night in Game 1 of their best-of-three Class A Legion baseball playoff series.
Post 18 struck first in the top of the first inning when Canon Moller singled to score Carter McCormick for a 1-0 lead.
Rapid City answered in the bottom of the second, sending 10 batters to the plate and scoring seven runs on four hits. The key blow was a three-run home run by Max Speed that gave Post 320 a 7-1 advantage.
Palace City pulled within 7-4 with three runs in the third inning, but Rapid City responded with three runs in the bottom half to extend the lead to 10-4 and remained in control the rest of the way.
Dawson Adams and Kaiden Allen each had two hits for Post 18. Jaxson Hartman and Jacob Ebert both doubled. Adams, Moller, Ian Weber and Allen each drove in a run.
Tyler Christensen took the loss for Palace City, allowing seven runs on five hits and three walks in 1 1/3 innings. Noah Bennett worked four innings in relief.
Burke Eschmeyer earned the win for Rapid City, allowing four runs, two earned, on eight hits over 6 1/3 innings while striking out six.
Rapid City finished with 11 hits, led by Ayden Byrd, who went 3 for 4. Tegan Sayles and Ben Hassett also had multiple hits for Post 320, which drew nine walks in the game.
Game 2 is scheduled for 4 p.m. CDT on Thursday in Rapid City, with a deciding Game 3 to follow if necessary.