WEBSTER -- Vermillion freed its offense.
The result was an 18-0 win over host team Webster Saturday in the second round of the American Legion Baseball State B Tournament.
"Unlike yesterday, we hit the ball today with runners in scoring position," said Nathan Garrett, who drove in five runs with three singles for the winners. Vermillion left 12 runners on base in its 6-5 loss to Miner-McCook in the opening round Friday.
"We definitely took out a little frustration today (Saturday) after yesterday's tough loss," Garrett said. "Now our pitchers just have to keep throwing strikes. We have to play solid defense behind them and we have to keep hitting the ball like we did today.
"It is all about taking one inning at a time so we can work our way back. And we are prepared to do the things we need to do."
Vermillion (31-8) will play at 1 this afternoon in another elimination game in the double-elimination tourney. Webster ended its season with a 16-12 record and its second-straight State B appearance after about a 30-year absence.
Four Vermillion players had three hits, including Chayse Meierkort who, like Garrett, had five RBIs. The other two players with three hits were Jayce Huska and Collin Bertram. Tanner Anderson and Olson each added two hits.
After a 0-0 tie in two innings, Vermillion scored four, four and 10 runs in the next three innings to end the game. Andy Rithmiller hit a double in the bottom of the fifth inning to break up winning pitcher's Colin Olson's no-hitter.
Game notes
Bob Wiley Field in Webster is 325 feet to the left- and right-field fences and 370 feet to center. . . . Chayse Meierkort of Vermillion is the son of former University of South Dakota coach Ed Meierkort, who led the Coyotes to 54 wins in eight seasons.
Vermillion|004 4(10)--18 17 1
Webster|000 00-- 0 1 3
Colin Olson and Chayse Meierkort; Seth Flemmer, Spencer Lux (2), Connor Spindler (5) and Jared McClurg. 2B--Vermillion, Meierkort, Nile Morecroft; Webster, Any Rithmiller. LOB--Vermillion 8; Webster 2. Pitching--Vermillion, Olson, WP; Webster, Lux, LP.