The Clark Traders, an amateur baseball squad from South Dakota with a modest 5‑7 regular‑season record, shocked the state tournament bracket by advancing to the championship game of the 2026 South Dakota State Amateur Baseball Tournament Class B.
The final, played in a packed venue, pitted the fifth‑seeded Traders against the top‑seeded Alexandria Angels, who posted a 12‑2 victory that secured the Angels’ sixth state B title since 2013.
The Traders’ path was marked by a series of upsets, including victories over district champions Tabor Bluebirds and Dell Rapids Mudcats, culminating in a dramatic walk‑off homer by star hitter Zach Toben that eliminated the Mudcats in the semifinals.
Key Performances
Dakota Munger of Alexandria earned the Keith Cutler Class B MVP after delivering a complete‑game performance with seven strikeouts, while Toben finished the tournament batting .556 with nine RBIs, narrowly missing the Class B batting crown.
Alexandria’s Ben Wilber and Charlie Dubanoski contributed two‑run hits that helped the Angels pull away, and the Traders’ own Cam Jensen and Carson Jager provided crucial defensive support throughout the series.
Fred Obermeier, the team’s general manager, had openly questioned the squad’s title prospects early in the tournament, but later praised the players’ resilience and cohesion, noting that “the chemistry we built was the foundation of this run.”
Awards and Recognition
The Traders’ sportsmanship was recognized with the Richard Rockafellow Sportsmanship Award, a testament to the group’s conduct on and off the field throughout the competition.
In the Class A championship, Harrisburg Woodies captured their second straight title, defeating Renner Monarchs 3‑1; Dalton Lehnen was named Class A MVP after a 1.42 ERA and 11 strikeouts.
The tournament also highlighted veteran performances, such as Bryce DesLauriers, and paid homage to the 1984 state championship team, linking past and present achievements.
Awards continued with the Tony Adams Hustle Award, which Zach Toben received on August 15, honoring his leadership and clutch hitting that defined the Traders’ memorable campaign.