RAPID CITY The Huron Post 7 Tigers came in as the 14th seed, so they were hoping to score an upset over the second-seeded Rapid City Post 22 Hard Hats. Unfortunately, dominant pitching from the Hard Hats shut down the Tiger offense and swept out Post 7 from the postseason on Thursday and Friday at Fitzgerald Stadium in Rapid City.
Lefty Lee Neugebauer was excellent on the mound for Rapid City, striking out 10 hitters over six shutout innings to lead the Hard Hats to an 8-0 victory in the opener Thursday night.
Jack Pedersen opened the game on the mound for Post 7, going five innings, allowing eight runs on seven hits and five walks, striking out four. Brady Feenstra closed out the game with an inning pitched, allowing one walk.
Huron had just five hitters reach base. Trace Wenz, Jackson Mattke, and Layne Wenzel each recorded singles while Logan Leyendecker and Kolton Ogle drew walks.
In the second game of the best-of-three series on Friday, a power display by Post 22s Jace Morgan, who had a home run, triple, double, and a walk in four plate appearances, powered the Hard Hats to a 13-0 victory.
Layne Wenzel started his final game for Post 7 on the mound, tossing four innings and allowing seven runs on seven hits and three walks. Tommie Martin came in relief, but he could not record an out before allowing give runs on three hits and a walk. Feenstra closed out the game with an inning pitched, allowing one run on two hits.
Hurons offense was only able to get five base runners as Wenzel and Feenstra tapped out singles and Mattke, Bubba Peterson, and Brandon Flowers each drew walks.
Huron finishes the year with a 7-30 record.
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