As the Wakefield Post 81 Seniors prepare for the Chuck Ellis Tournament this weekend, they were recenlty in action on their home diamond on July 15 following four straight days for the Post 81 Juniors in Hartington for postseason action.
Post 81 Seniors host Dakota Valley
One day after the Wakefield Juniors were eliminated from the Class C Area 1 Tournament, the Post 81 Seniors picked up a single home outing.
From Eaton Field in Wakefield, Post 81 entertained the Dakota Valley Panther Legion team on July 15.
Wakefield suffered a 7-1 loss dropping their third straight falling to 7-12.
Post 81 last played a Seniors game on Sunday, July 6 hosting Malcolm (lost 5-0).
Jesse Lundahl singled and doubled while Mason Lamprecht doubled and drove in a run.
Jacob Birkley scored.
Lundahl (80 pitches) suffered the loss in three and two-thirds allowing four runs (three earned) off four hits while striking out seven batters and walking five. Lamprecht (48) worked three and a third allowing three earned runs off four hits while striking out three batters, walking one and hitting two.
Next up for the Wakefield Post 81 Seniors will be the Chuck Ellis Tournament on Saturday, July 19. Game times were listed at 3 p.m., 5:30 p.m. and 8 p.m. playing the first and last games. Opponents will be Plainview and Tri County Titans from Orchard.
Wakefield Juniors fall one game shy of finals
After catching fire winning back-to-back over the weekend, the Wakefield Post 81 Junior American Legion baseball team closed out their season early in the week.
Back in Hartington for a fourth consecutive day, #5 Wakefield found themselves in a first round rematch with #2 Plainview, a team they beat 1-0 on July 11 to open the Class C Area 1 Tournament.
This time around on July 14, it was Plainview jumping out front to pick up the 17-3 victory.
Post 81 ends their season at 6-11.
Tanner Thompson singled, doubled and scored while Turner Thompson singled and drove in a run.
Other single runs were scored by Jacob Birkley and Matthew Metzler.
Tristan Connell (29 pitches) suffered the loss in a third of an inning allowing four earned runs while walking five batters and hitting two. Drake McAfee (47) worked an inning and a third allowing six earned runs off one hit while striking out one batter, walking five and hitting three.
Benny Palma (65) followed the next inning and two-thirds allowing seven runs (three earned) off one hit while walking six batters and hitting five. Weston Patefield (16) closed out the final third of an inning striking out one batter and walking two.
Earlier, Post 81 won 1-0 against #2 Plainview on July 11, picked up a 13-10 victory over #3 Crofton on July 12 and suffered a 13-2 loss to #1 Hartington on July 13.
Several members of the Juniors team joined the Wakefield Post 81 Seniors (7-12) who suffered a 7-1 loss against Dakota Valley on July 15 in Wakefield.
Wakefield Juniors fall to elimination round
Wakefield Post 81 ran into a hot hitting Hartington Juniors team during the Class C Area 1 Tournament semifinal round.
#5 Wakefield battled the host #1 Hartington on July 13.
Hartington took advantage in the fourth to win 13-2 dropping Post 81 to then 6-10.
Jacob Birkley singled twice; Tanner Thompson singled and drove in two runs as Matthew Metzler doubled and scored.
Turner Thompson also singled as Weston Patefield scored.
Landon Newton (70 pitches) suffered the loss in three and a third innings allowing eight runs (seven earned) off five hits while striking out two batters, walking four and hitting two. Benny Palma (24) didn't record an out allowing five earned runs off two hits while walking four batters and hitting two.
Drake McAfee (7) closed out the final two-thirds striking out one batter
Wakefield Post 81 previously won 1-0 over #2 Plainview on July 11 and defeated #3 Crofton by a score of 13-10 on July 12 before closing their season on July 14 with a 17-3 loss to #2 Plainview.
Wakefield Juniors score late to advance in C1 Area
One day after scoring a single run in seven innings, the Wakefield Post 81 Junior American Legion baseball team competed in a combined 23-run game.
Back in Hartington, #5 Wakefield took on #3 Crofton. The two teams previously played to an 11-10 decision on June 28 favoring the host Crofton as Crofton also won 13-2 on June 18 in Wakefield.
During the July 12 Class C Area 1 outing, Wakefield erased a 9-7 deficit late to win 13-10. Post 81 improved to then 6-9.
Weston Patefield singled twice, drove in two runs and scored; Will Benson singled twice and scored three times; Drake McAfee singled twice and scored as Matthew Metzler doubled, drove in three runs and scored.
Tristan Connell singled and scored three times; Jacob Birkley singled and scored twice; Tanner Thompson accounted for two RBI and a run scored as Benny Palma added a RBI and run scored.
Birkley (105 pitches) picked up the complete game win in seven innings allowing 10 runs (eight earned) off 10 hits while striking out 10 batters, walking two and hitting two.
Wakefield Post 81 previously won 1-0 over #2 Plainview on July 11 before dropping a 13-2 decision against #1 Hartington on July 13 and ending their season with a 17-3 loss to #2 Plainview on July 14.
Wakefield Juniors start 1-0 in postseason
After being off since June 28, the Wakefield Post 81 Junior American Legion baseball team returned to the diamond.
Hartington was the host site of the Class C Area 1 Juniors tourney where #5 Wakefield started the first round against #2 Plainview on July 11.
It only took one run in the top of the first followed by six and a half of scoreless ball to favor Wakefield winning 1-0. Post 81 improved to then 5-9 and snapped a three-game losing streak.
Turner Thompson singled twice and drove in a run while Matthew Metzler singled, doubled and scored.
Tanner Thompson (107 pitches) picked up the victory in six and a third innings allowing three hits while striking out nine batters, walking two and hitting one. Jacob Birkley (6) worked the final two-thirds.
Wakefield Post 81 would also win 13-10 against #3 Crofton on July 12, drop a 13-2 decision against #1 Hartington on July 13 and end their season with a 17-3 loss with #2 Plainview on July 14.
