The Palace City Post 18 Junior Legion baseball squad traveled to Sioux Falls on Tuesday, where they faced a doubleheader against Post 15 Junior Legion Sioux Falls West. The first contest slipped away as the locals fell 12‑7, a loss that was punctuated by a solid effort from Owen Borgan, who went 2‑for‑3 with two RBIs, and a collective hit‑and‑run effort from Blake Rehorst, Madden Graves, Bryson Schlimgen and Treston Zens. The second game turned into a thriller that stretched into extra innings, ultimately ending with a walk‑off RBI single from Graves that secured an 11‑10 victory. Graves’ clutch hit capped a rally that saw the team rally from a deficit, while Jett Krantz closed out the eighth inning with the final three outs, preserving the win.
Sioux Falls Showdown
Offensive fireworks were spread across the lineup. In the decisive game, Jack Hohn, Blake Rehorst and Nolan Widstrom each collected two hits, but it was Rehorst who emerged as the RBI leader, driving in three runs on a 2‑for‑3 day. Karsten Herges added a hit and a run, while Madden Graves contributed both a hit and an RBI. On the mound, Owen Borgan started the second game and surrendered 13 hits and ten runs, but relief pitcher Jett Krantz stepped in to shut down the opposition in the top of the eighth, earning the win for Palace City.
The victory improved the Post 18 Juniors to an 8‑7 record, and they are slated to compete in the Dakota Classic Tournament from June 12‑14 in Sioux Falls. The upcoming tournament will test their depth as they face a new set of opponents in a high‑stakes environment.
13U Team Faces Double Defeat
In a separate age group, the Palace City 13U baseball team endured a rough home doubleheader on Wednesday at Drake Field, dropping both games to Harrisburg Black. The first game ended 17‑0 after the visitors exploded for nine runs in the third inning, outhitting PCB 8‑1 and capitalizing on a single defensive error. Starter Ayden Vaneverdingen was charged with 14 runs on four hits, walking 11 batters before being relieved by Kaleb Byrd, who recorded the lone hit for Palace City before being replaced.
The second game saw Harrisburg Black extend their dominance, posting 20‑7 after an 11‑run burst across the first two innings and additional scores in the fourth and fifth. PCB managed to plate all seven of its runs in the fourth, but the offensive onslaught from Harrisburg proved overwhelming. Pitcher Radley Maeschen was touched for 11 runs on ten hits over three innings, and reliever Boston Bates surrendered nine runs on eight hits before the game slipped away. Despite the setbacks, players such as Asher Kaus, Ben Raml, Tayzen Fernau and Huntley Hillman contributed individual hits and RBIs, and the team now prepares to host Brookings for a noon doubleheader on Tuesday, June 16.