WEBSTER -- The biggest crowd of the day got one of the biggest thrills of the day.
Hundreds of fans saw Groton nip host Webster 4-1 Friday in the opening round of the American Legion Baseball State B Tournament in the last game of the day. The game was tied 1-1 through seven innings.
"It means a lot to get that first win," said Mason Madsen, who had two hits and two RBIs for Groton. "Because once you lose, it is hard to make your way back."
Groton (29-7) will play Miner-McCook (19-6) tonight, 30 minutes after Flandreau (18-6) vs. Milbank (24-5), which will start at 5 p.m. Webster (16-11) will play Vermillion (30-8) today, 30 minutes after Winner-Colome (11-11) vs. Tabor (11-8), which will start at 10 a.m.
Madsen had a lot of praise for Webster. "This was our fourth game against Webster this year, and they have all been close like this one," he said. "They are a good team and their pitcher, Reid Valsvig, pitched a heck of a game. We just kept battling, and were fortunate to come out with the win."
Groton coach Travis Kurth said his team needs to take one game at a time. "You just have to try to do the best you can, make sure your kids are level-headed, and you respect every team you play. All these teams are very good and deserve to be here.
"When you get behind or get in a close game like we did tonight, you can't panic," Kurth said. "You just have to find a way to win. And you never know what that way might be. It could be a little thing. That is why you have to do things the right way all the time, because you never know what might turn the tide."
In the top of the eighth inning, Jamie Jorgensen walked and then got to third on a pinch-hit single by Michael Erickson.
Jorgensen would then score on a passed ball to give Groton a 2-1 lead.
Groton scored first in the second inning on Mason Madsen's homer. "It was my first home run ever," Madsen said. "It felt so good, and it will be something I will always remember."
In the fourth, Blake Wilkinson of Webster got on base and advanced to second on an error. Teammate Spencer Lux then tied the game with his RBI double.
Groton added two runs in the ninth inning. After Drew Planteen (error) and Brandon Stanley (hit by pitch) reached base, Madsen and Jorgensen got RBIs.
Groton pitchers Jorgensen and Parker Rossow combined for 15 strikeouts. Rossow was the winning pitcher.
Lux had three hits for Webster (a double and two singles). Teammates Ross Bullert and Chandler Holland had two hits each.
Game notes
The mom of Webster player Connor Spindler, Jill Spindler, did a great job of singing the National Anthem at opening ceremonies. . . . One of the neatest things about Bob Wiley Field is when the train rolls through just behind the outfield fence. . . . By the end of the game, the temperature had dropped to a chilly 56 degrees.
Groton|010 000 012--4 6 2
Webster|000 100 000--1 8 3
Jamie Jorgensen, Parker Rossow (6) and Kasey Kurtz; Reid Valsvig, Spencer Lux (8), Chandler Holland (9) and Jared McClurg. 2B--Webster, Lux. HR--Groton, Mason Madsen. LOB--Groton 12; Webster 10. Pitching--Groton, Rossow, WP; Webster, Valsvig, LP.