REDFIELD – Clark and Redfield advanced in the winner’s bracket, but not without a bit of a struggle during the opening day of the Region 6B American Legion baseball tournament Tuesday in Redfield.

Clark rallied from a six-run deficit with a dozen unanswered runs in a 12-6 victory over Groton, while Redfield lost a four-run lead before securing an 11-9 eight-inning win over Wessington Springs.

Clark and Redfield, the lone unbeaten squads in the six-team field, will face each other at 5 tonight with the winner advancing to the title contest.

Mitchell Larson belted a pair of home runs and knocked in four runs to power Clark’s win. Hudson Fuller struck out 11 batters for Clark and also had a triple.

Trey Huber, Lucas Kannegieter and Collin Gaikowski also had two hits for Clark, which finished with a dozen hits as a team.

Pierce Kettering had three hits to lead Groton, while Ryan Groeblinghoff had two hits and drove in a pair.

Redfield received three hits, including a double from Camden Osborn in its triumph. He also had two runs batted in. Kellan Hurd had two hits and drove in two, while Owen Osborn doubled and tripled, and Erik Salmen also had two hits.

Mason Schelske had three hits to top Wessington Springs, which will face Hamlin to start today’s action at 10 a.m. The loser will be eliminated. Hamlin lost to Groton in the opening round on Tuesday.

Blaze Herdman had four hits as Wessington Springs defeated Warner-Ipswich-Northwestern (WIN) in a 13-12 slugfest in the first round. WIN will take on Groton in an elimination contest at 1 this afternoon.

Redfield 007 000 04 – 11 11 4

Wessington Springs 120 004 02 – 9 10 2

Nolan Gall, Keaton Rohlfs (7) and Elijah Morrissette; Mason Schelske, Tyler Fastnacht (5), Austin Schimke (7), Landon Cleveland (8), Kade Olinger (8) and Cleveland, Blake Larson (8). 2B – Redfield, Owen Osborn, Camden Osborn, Kellan Hurd; Wessington Springs, Schelske. 3B – Redfield, Owen Osborn.
Clark 002 303 4 – 12 12 1

Groton 330 000 0 – 6 8 3

Hudson Fuller, Trey Huber (6) and Zach Winter; Jackson Cogley, Cole Simon (6) and Cade Larson. 2B – Clark, Conner Mudgett, Lucas Kannegieter, Collin Gaikowski, Jack Bratland; Groton, Tate Larson, Pierce Kettering. 3B – Clark, Fuller. HR – Clark, Mitchell Larson 2.

Warner-Ipswich-Northwestern 105 020 4 – 12 15 6

Wessington Springs 240 331 x – 13 13 2

Q. Fischbach, Ward (5) and Bishop; Blaze Herdman, Cade Mohling (6), Blake Larson (7) and Landon Cleveland. 2B – Warner-Ipswich-Northwestern, Schipke, Remily; Wessington Springs, Herdman, Cleveland. 3B – Warner-Ipswich-Northwestern N. Fischbach, Ratigan.