Tea Legion ends season with loss at Regions

On Wednesday, July 24 the Tea Post 266 Senior Legion baseball team began their Region 3B playoff run. Tea faced off against Lennox in the first round, and despite out-hitting Lennox seven to six, Tea lost 4-1. 

Boston Willemssen led things off on the mound for the TinCaps, allowing three hits and one run over three innings. He struck out one and walked two. Nate Christensen and Clayton Schwebach pitched in relief. Christensen pitched one inning, allowing three hits, three runs and recording one strike out. Schwebach pitched two innings, recording two strike-outs and allowing zero hits and zero runs. 

Schwebach led the TinCaps with two hits in the game, he also recorded an RBI. Also recording a hit were Mason Schramm, Gavin Johnson, Carter Turek, Tim Halbur, and Ben Vasecka. 

Following their loss to Lennox, Tea had to battle back in the double elimination tournament. On Thursday, July 25 they faced off against Dakota Valley. 

Thanks in part to nine runs in the first inning, Tea went on to win 11-4. 

In the opening inning, an error scored Christensen and Schramm. Carter Turek doubled to score two more runs as Schwebach and Johnson both crossed home plate. Ben Vasecka singled to score Turek, Schramm singled to score Vasecka and Willemssen, an error brought Schramm home and Schwebach doubled, scoring Christensen. 

Tea scored one more run in the bottom of the third when Christensen stole home and an additional run in the bottom of the fifth. 

Schramm collected four hits in four at bats for Tea. He singled twice in the first, singled in the third and singled again int he fifth. Schwebach collected three hits in the game and Christensen, Turek, Halbur, Vasecka, and Willemssen each had a hit. 

Schwebach started on the mound for Tea. He gave up one hit and zero runs over three and one-third innings. He struck out three and walked one. Schramm, Jake Lingren, and Blare Becker each appeared in relief for the TinCaps. Schramm allowed two hits, two runs and had one strike out. Lingren allowed one run and had one strike out and Becker allowed one hit, one run and recorded one strike out.

Following their win over Dakota Valley, the TinCaps faced off against Vermillion on Thursday, July 25. Vermillion scored early, taking a 1-0 advantage after the opening inning. They scored twice more in the bottom of the third and one more in the bottom of the sixth to get the 4-0 victory, ending the TinCaps’ season. 

Christensen handled pitching duties for Tea. He allowed four hits and four runs over six innings. He struck out three and walked three. 

Turek and Schwebach each collected one hit for Tea. 

Elk Point Jefferson went on to win the Region 3B title, defeating Lennox 12-1 on Saturday, July 27.