GROTON – An experienced group of players had led Groton back to the State B Tournament for the second year in a row.

Groton Post 39 punched its ticket to the tourney in Milbank with a 6-2 Region 1B win over Sisseton last Friday. The current group of players have been eager for a return trip.

“It’s really a credit to the kids. They like to win just like anybody, but they’ve worked really hard,” said Groton coach Seth Erickson. “These guys are chomping at the bit as soon as football gets done to start practicing baseball already. This is a group of kids that love to practice, they love being out there, and they just put together really solid games.”

Groton is led by a strong number of upperclassmen who have been a key part of the squad for the past two years.

“Very happy to be there. It’s one of those years where we knew we were bringing a lot of those guys back. Some new faces, some kids that played a little bit this year, but didn’t play every game for us,” Erickson said. “The boys stepped up big time and got us there. They’re very excited and now that we’re there, you kind of know how it works, and what you have to be prepared for mentally to get through a tournament that’s five days long.”

Erickson has taken advantage of a major portion of the starting lineup returning from last year’s squad.

“We lean on our last year players. It starts at the top of our order, Teylor Diegel. He gets on base, he’s gonna score. It’s just the way it’s been going. Korbin Kucker bats two. He’s also a senior, last year player. He’s the type of guy that can hit it all over the place,” Erickson said. “Brevin Fliehs has been our three hitter for a while. He’s gonna get the job done. He’s another last year player. Carter Simon then can come up, he’s got six or seven home runs this year, so he’s got that power to drive it. He can change the game with one swing.”

The rest of the lineup has been producing runs for Groton this year as well.

“It just seems like we’re getting hits at the exact right time we need them. We get one or two guys on base and all of a sudden, boom there’s a double,” Erickson said. “Pretty much all nine guys have the ability to hit one to the wall and then we have a handful of kids that have home runs, too.”

In addition to having a dangerous offense, Groton has a pitching staff that creates problems for opposing teams as well.

“Our pitching this year has been great. Nick Morris is a last year player. He’s got eight wins this year, one loss. Just having an incredible season for us,” Erickson said. “We have a lefty, Jarret Erdmann, who’s been doing very well for us as well. Gavin Englund, he can pitch, he plays third, and he’s got some power.”

With that number of pitchers, and more waiting in the wings, Erickson thinks that the depth on the mound is what will help get the squad through the tournament.

“We might not have that one dominant pitcher that throws 85 miles per hour, but I think we have 5-7 pitchers that can throw out there,” Erickson said. “I don’t think a lot of teams have that. The ability to have that many pitchers on the roster that you can trust to throw a whole game, and it’s one of those years where we just do.”

Even with a hard-throwing group of pitchers, Erickson is still focusing on having them throw strikes.

“I think just being consistent when we’re pitching, just trying to limit the walks as much as possible. I always say ‘walks kill’ and they usually do if you lead off an inning with a walk,” said Erickson. “I think it’s minimizing the little things. Trying not to let the little things, like the walks and the errors, turn into this huge inning where other teams score multiple runs.”

The road at state will not be an easy one as Groton takes on Winner-Colome, which takes a 17-3 record in the tourney, at 5 p.m. Friday during the double-elimination event.

“I don’t know much about them but when you’re 15-2, 18-2, whatever your record is, you must be pretty good,” Erickson said. “You talk around a little bit, and I know they’re a very defensively-sound team, they have good pitching, and they’re gonna put the ball in play.”

With the eight best teams battling it out in Milbank, Erickson believes the state title is up for grabs.

“There’s a lot of good teams. A lot of good teams,” Erickson said. “I truly think it’s anybody’s tournament this year.”