David Jost Memorial Field was the place to be last Saturday and Sunday as Wessington Springs hosted the first round of the amateur baseball 3B District games.
On Saturday, July 27, entering the tourney as the second-ranked team in District 3B, the Springs Owls took on the Colome Chaos. The Owls got on the board at the bottom of the first inning. Tyson Lien hit two home runs during the game, the first in the bottom of the third and the second in the bottom of the eighth. The second home run resulted in a tie of 4-4 going into the ninth inning. Cade Mohling broke that tie by hitting a single and bringing a runner in to score, making the final score of the game 5-4 in favor of the Springs Owls.
Heading into the second day of the tournament on Sunday, July 28, the Owls took on the Burke Bombers. Mason Schelske and Terrek Butterfield shared pitching duties, allowing 13 runs on 14 hits, striking out nine batters and walking four. Blake Larson and Camden Jost each had one hit and one RBI and Trevor Kenobbie had two hits and an RBI. Five other batters were also able to connect for hits. The Bombers upset the Owls 13-7, clinching a spot in the District 3B championship game and a trip to the Class B state tournament.
The Springs Owls defeated Chamberlain Mallards 11-0 on Tuesday to earn a spot in the Class B state tournament, set to take place August 7 - 18 at Cadwell Park in Mitchell.