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N.D. (NewsDakota.com)—–The Thompson Tommies defeated the Carrington Cardinals in the state semifinal game for the second straight year and will move on to try and defend their 2016 state title with a 5-4 come from behind victory. The Tommies trailed 4-3 after 5 innings, scored 1 run in the sixth to tie the game and took advantage of Carrington’s only error in the seventh inning to advance to the 2017 title game. Calen Schwabe reached on an error and moved all the way to third base on the throw to lead off the bottom of the seventh. Carrington would intentionally walk the next 2 batters to load the bases. Tyler Hegg delivered a base hit to score Schwabe for the 5-4 win.

Cardinal senior Braxton Hewitt went 3-4 at the plate with an RBI and 1 run scored. Hewitt took the loss on the mound allowing 5 runs (4 earned), struck out 5, walked 5 (2 intentional), and hit 2 batters. Kyle Leapaldt also went 2-3 with an RBI and Payton Smith went 2-4 with a run scored. The Cards led 3-0 early when the Tommies committed 2 first inning errors along with a Hewitt RBI single and Leapaldt’s RBI sacrifice fly. Hewitt was also thrown out at the plate twice in the game. The first time in the second inning after a double with 1 out, Hewitt was out trying to score on Leapaldt’s single to centerfield for the second out of the inning. Trying to take the lead back in the top of the 7th, it was a relay from the right fielder to first baseman to the catcher for the third out of the inning.

Thompson scored three runs in the second inning to tie the game at 3. The Cards were fortunate to complete an inning ending double play with 1 out and the bases loaded in the that inning. Schwabe hit a 1-hopper back to Hewitt on the mound, tossed it to his catcher (Lucas Geiszler) for a force out and a throw back to first to force out the speedster Schwabe for the double play.

Carrington regained the lead in the 4th inning when Kolton Vetter (hit by pitch) scored on a throwing error by the Tommies catcher. Payton Smith, who singled with 2 outs putting Vetter at 3rd base stole second and on the play Thompson tried to throw down to third and oick Vetter off, the went down the left field line and Vetter’s run made it 4-3 Cards.

Thompson starting pitcher Cadyn Schwabe (younger brother to Calen) was the winning pitcher, allowing 4 runs (1 earned) and also went 1-3 with an RBI. Hegg, who had the game winning hit was the only Tommy with more than 1 hit, he was 2-4 with the game winning hit/RBI.

3rd place game:

Kindred-Richland (KR)   6       Carrington  5

The KR Vikings built a 6-0 lead after 6 innings and appeared to be taking home the third place trophy with little resistance from Carrington who managed just 1 hit off winning pitcher Brandon Roesler. Carrington would come alive in the 7th and just about pulled off a miraculous comeback. The Cards would score 5 runs on 4 hits, 2 walks, and a hit batter. All the runs scoring with 2 outs. Drew Page had an RBI double, after Trey Rosenau was hit by pitch, the Cards would get RBI singles from Kolton Vetter and Garrett Bickett to cut the Viking lead to 6-3. Payton Smith (7-10 in the state tourney) delivered a 2 run double to pull the Cards to within 6-5 and the tying run at 3rd base (Bickett) and go ahead runner (Smith) at second base. The Vikings who replaced Roesler to start the 7th inning brought Roesler back in the game and he got the final out picking up not only the win but also earned the save as well. Carrington finished up it’s season 18-8 overall and the Vikings finished at 29-2 overall.