WEBSTER -- Milbank saved its best for last, scoring all of its runs in the final two innings to nip Tabor 5-4 on Friday.
Milbank (24-5) will now play Flandreau (18-6) at 5 tonight in the second round of the American Legion Baseball State B Tournament in Webster.
"This is great, really great," said Milbank's Taylor Boerger, whose lone hit was the walk-off single to produce the winning run in the bottom of the ninth with two out and a full count. "We are excited to still be in the top half of the bracket."
Matt Stephan said he and his Milbank teammates were confident that Boerger was the man for the job after Zach Waletich reached first on an error and continued on to third as part of that same error. "Taylor was due," Stephan said. "And he always comes through in the clutch for us. He is a great player."
Stephan produced his own fireworks. He got Milbank back on track in the bottom of the eighth inning, when his team trailed 4-0, by hitting a two-run double. Landon Hammer followed with an RBI triple and Dylan Fox with a game-tying RBI single.
"I was struggling today," Stephan said. "But I got lucky and I lined one."
Stephan and Boerger both agreed their and their team's troubles had a lot to do with the arm of Tabor pitcher Ross Kortan (10 strikeouts). "He is a great pitcher," Stephan said. "And he was hitting his spots well today."
Boerger said his team knew they had to be patient. "We knew if we kept our heads in the game that we could get through it."
Justin Ackerman, who pitched the final two innings in relief of starter Boerger, was the winning pitcher. Stephan had two hits as did Waletich.
Scott Wieseler had three hits for Tabor (11-8), which plays Winner-Colome (11-11) at 10 this morning in an elimination game. Teammates Kortan and Blase Vanecek had two hits each.
Game notes
Tabor coach Ken Ranek is the uncle of former Bon Homme, South Dakota State and CFL standout Josh Ranek. Ranek was on verge of making the Dallas Cowboys roster before he was derailed by an injury. . . . Milbank is 46 miles east of Webster along U.S. Highway 12. . . . Tabor will host the 2014 State B Legion tourney and Huron the State A.
Tabor|000 102 100--4 10 2
Milbank|000 000 041--5 11 2
Ross Kortan and Blase Vanecek; Tyler Boerger, Justin Ackerman (8) and Matthew Stephan. 2B--Milbank, Stephan. 3B--Milbank, Landon Hammer. LOB--Tabor, 11; Milbank 7. Pitching--Milbank, Ackerman, WP; Tabor, Kortan, LP.