Vermillion survived an epic baseball battle to advance to the final day of the American Legion Baseball State B Tournament.
Vermillion slipped past Flandreau 11-9 in an elimination game Monday in Webster. Flandreau scored one run in both the eighth and ninth innings and had the bases loaded in both innings.
In the end, Chayse Meierkort was on the mound for Vermillion and earned the save. Flandreau forced him to face seven batters, the last of which he struck out.
"I was getting a little bit nervous out there," said Meierkort, who continued his big tourney at the plate with three hits and four RBIs - giving him a total of eight hits and 11 RBIs in four games.
"I am a catcher that throws, not a pitcher that catches," Meierkort said with a smile. "So every time I go out there, I am expected to throw a few wild ones. That is kind of my thing."
Meierkort praised the work of his teammates as the heroes were many for Vermillion.
Tanner Settles had three hits and three RBIs, including what turned out to be the game-winning two-run RBI single in the bottom of the eighth inning.
Settles also made the defensive play of the game at shortstop with two outs and the bases loaded in the top of the eighth. Flandreau pinch hitter Tate Lacey did his job by hitting a line shot up the middle. Settles dove, stopped the ball and then managed to generate enough momentum to stretch out to second base to tag the bag with his glove with the ball in it for the force out.
"That was a huge play by Tanner," Meierkort said.
Colin Olson was the winning pitcher who threw 3 innings in relief. He was almost pulled in the eighth inning when Flandreau had gotten a run and was filling the bases. But he pitched out of it.
Vermillion got two hits each from Tanner Anderson and Jayce Huska.
Vermillion coach Jason Gault and assistant Nick Mayer made great decisions. They could have easily pulled Olson in the eighth and Meierkort in the ninth. They stuck with them and it paid big dividends.
"That is the one thing about this team," Meierkort said. "Everyone steps up huge when we need a play in some shape or form. And you never know who it is going to be or when it is going to be. It is what gets us through games."
Meierkort said his team is playing well and with a lot of confidence. "We messed up in that first game (Friday). We made errors we don't normally make and didn't get the hits we normally do. But after we got that out of the way, it lit a fire under us and we were ready to go. Sometimes it seems like we almost need to have our backs against the wall."
Flandreau was led by Mitch Foster with four hits. Teammates David Parsley and Kyle Scofield added three hits each.
Vermillion (33-8) will play at 1 this afternoon as the tourney will come to an end today at Bob Wiley Field. Flandreau ended its season 19-8.
Game notes: Webster got a few sprinkles during the day Monday, but that was it as it was a rainy day in both Aberdeen and Watertown. . . The first TV station of the tourney showed up tonight for the first game. . . When the game ended, it was 64 degrees and overcast with a cool 10 mph wind blowing in. . . David and Tim Parsley of Flandreau are brothers and have seven siblings.
Flandreau|004120011-9195
Vermillion|11014202x-11132
Jacob Patterson, Geno Bursheim (6) and Alex Schwing; Collin Bertram, Colin Olson (5), Chayse Meierkort (9) and Meierkort, Ty Iverson. 2B - Flandreau, Mitchel Foster; Vermillion, Meierkort. LOB - Flandreau, 16; Vermillion 10. Winning pitcher - Olson. Losing pitcher - Patterson. Save - Meierkort.
Twitter: @jpapendick