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Aug. 4—MITCHELL — On paper, it's hard to imagine a better slate of first-round games for the Class B state amateur baseball tournament than the one that was produced by random draw for Saturday, Aug. 8.
Saturday's quartet of games features three of the past four state championship clubs, as well as three of the four semifinalists and five of the eight quarterfinalists from 2025. Also in the mix is another perennial power and a 2026 district champion.
In short, it's a loaded day of baseball.
This year, the South Dakota Amateur Baseball Association made a tweak to its bracket-building process. Previously, the only restrictions for first-round pairings were that district champions could not play each other, and teams from the same district could not play each other. Those principles still remain, but now district champions and district runner-ups are restricted from playing each other in the opening round.
Even still, there is no shortage of intriguing pairings in the round of 32.
Here's a closer look at the Saturday slate.
Parkston Rays vs. Hartford/Humboldt Gamecocks, 11 a.m. Saturday
Saturday gets started with a rematch of last season's thrilling state championship clash, which saw the Rays rally late for a 10-8 victory over the Gamecocks that secured the club a state title in its tournament debut.
In the wake of that state championship meeting, neither team got off to a particularly hot start in 2026, but both enter the state tournament having won seven of their last nine games. Neither club was ranked in the final edition of the Class B amateur baseball poll on July 21, but the Rays were receiving votes.
A bonus: Only a select few communities at the Class B level field multiple clubs. Parkston and Hartford/Humboldt both fall into that bucket, and it's always an event to watch two baseball-crazed communities gather at Cadwell Park.
Winner/Colome vs. Dell Rapids Mudcats, 1 p.m. Saturday
When the Pheasants and Mudcats were drawn against each other as first-round opponents in 2025, there was an audible gasp in the conference room. The moment was a little more subdued in 2026, but barely.
The Mudcats, state champions in 2021 and 2022, were quarterfinalists in 2025 after beating Winner/Colome 7-2 in the first-round finale a year ago.
Before last season's early stumble in Brandon, the Pheasants had reached the quarterfinal round or later in six straight state tournaments at Cadwell Park.
It's the third time in five years that the two powerhouse clubs will cross paths in the state tournament.
Castlewood vs. Canova, 5:30 p.m.
A longtime amateur baseball power, the Gang, state champions in 2023, hardly needs an introduction, though they cut qualification close by slipping all the way to the last-chance district game before securing a spot in the field.
Meanwhile, Castlewood powered its way to the semifinals last season and won't be overlooked this time around.
In the final edition of the Class B poll, Canova ranked No. 4 with Castlewood at No. 6.
Burke vs. Redfield Dairy Queen, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday's nightcap promises to be a breakthrough for a club searching for an elusive state tournament victory. The Burke Bombers are relatively new to the amateur scene but are making their third consecutive appearances after being knocked out in the first round in 2024 and 2025.
Redfield DQ's history goes back much further and includes a fair share of success, but not recently. Redfield, ranked No. 9 in the final Class B poll, is in the field for a fifth time in six years but is still after its first win in that span.
Here's an interesting matchup for each of the other first-round game dates.
Elk Point vs. Parkston Mudcats, 5:30 p.m. Wednesday: For the second year in a row, the Mudcats get the honor of lifting the lid on the tournament with the first time slot Wednesday night. It went well for them last season with a 10-2 win over the Flandreau Cardinals. Parkston faces an Elk Point team back in the field for the sixth time in seven years. Both teams were ranked in the final Class B amateur poll, with the Mudcats at No. 8 and Colt .45s at No. 10.
Lesterville vs. Garretson, 1 p.m. Thursday: A couple of recent state finalists square off in the second game on Thursday. Lesterville, the 2023 runner-up, is back in the mix after missing out on the tournament a year ago, looking for its first win in the bracket since its deep run. Garretson, the 2022 runner-up, was a semifinalist in 2024 and made the second round last year, and will be aiming to add to its list of tournament successes.
Mount Vernon vs. Tabor, 7:30 p.m. Friday: A pair of Mitchell-area clubs feature under the lights on Friday night. Tabor, ranked No. 7 in the final Class B poll, is coming off its third consecutive tournament title in District 6B. Meanwhile, Mount Vernon was snakebitten for most of the season, falling just short in a number of close games. But perhaps the Mustangs found a breakthrough in the District 4B tournament, where they secured qualification with a game to spare.
Hartford/Humboldt Wood Ducks vs. Four Corners, 1 p.m. Sunday: The first round ends with a clash of a district runner-up against a ranked squad. Four Corners challenged for the District 3B title this season for the first time since 2023, and at last season's state tournament, it won an opening-round game. Out of the always-deep Cornbelt League, the Wood Ducks own a 16-6 record and were ranked No. 5 in the final Class B poll. In 2024, the last time the Wood Ducks were in the tournament, they made a run to the quarterfinals.
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Saturday's quartet of games features three of the past four state championship clubs, as well as three of the four semifinalists and five of the eight quarterfinalists from 2025. Also in the mix is another perennial power and a 2026 district champion.
In short, it's a loaded day of baseball.
This year, the South Dakota Amateur Baseball Association made a tweak to its bracket-building process. Previously, the only restrictions for first-round pairings were that district champions could not play each other, and teams from the same district could not play each other. Those principles still remain, but now district champions and district runner-ups are restricted from playing each other in the opening round.
Even still, there is no shortage of intriguing pairings in the round of 32.
Here's a closer look at the Saturday slate.
Parkston Rays vs. Hartford/Humboldt Gamecocks, 11 a.m. Saturday
Saturday gets started with a rematch of last season's thrilling state championship clash, which saw the Rays rally late for a 10-8 victory over the Gamecocks that secured the club a state title in its tournament debut.
In the wake of that state championship meeting, neither team got off to a particularly hot start in 2026, but both enter the state tournament having won seven of their last nine games. Neither club was ranked in the final edition of the Class B amateur baseball poll on July 21, but the Rays were receiving votes.
A bonus: Only a select few communities at the Class B level field multiple clubs. Parkston and Hartford/Humboldt both fall into that bucket, and it's always an event to watch two baseball-crazed communities gather at Cadwell Park.
Winner/Colome vs. Dell Rapids Mudcats, 1 p.m. Saturday
When the Pheasants and Mudcats were drawn against each other as first-round opponents in 2025, there was an audible gasp in the conference room. The moment was a little more subdued in 2026, but barely.
The Mudcats, state champions in 2021 and 2022, were quarterfinalists in 2025 after beating Winner/Colome 7-2 in the first-round finale a year ago.
Before last season's early stumble in Brandon, the Pheasants had reached the quarterfinal round or later in six straight state tournaments at Cadwell Park.
It's the third time in five years that the two powerhouse clubs will cross paths in the state tournament.
Castlewood vs. Canova, 5:30 p.m.
A longtime amateur baseball power, the Gang, state champions in 2023, hardly needs an introduction, though they cut qualification close by slipping all the way to the last-chance district game before securing a spot in the field.
Meanwhile, Castlewood powered its way to the semifinals last season and won't be overlooked this time around.
In the final edition of the Class B poll, Canova ranked No. 4 with Castlewood at No. 6.
Burke vs. Redfield Dairy Queen, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday's nightcap promises to be a breakthrough for a club searching for an elusive state tournament victory. The Burke Bombers are relatively new to the amateur scene but are making their third consecutive appearances after being knocked out in the first round in 2024 and 2025.
Redfield DQ's history goes back much further and includes a fair share of success, but not recently. Redfield, ranked No. 9 in the final Class B poll, is in the field for a fifth time in six years but is still after its first win in that span.
Here's an interesting matchup for each of the other first-round game dates.
Elk Point vs. Parkston Mudcats, 5:30 p.m. Wednesday: For the second year in a row, the Mudcats get the honor of lifting the lid on the tournament with the first time slot Wednesday night. It went well for them last season with a 10-2 win over the Flandreau Cardinals. Parkston faces an Elk Point team back in the field for the sixth time in seven years. Both teams were ranked in the final Class B amateur poll, with the Mudcats at No. 8 and Colt .45s at No. 10.
Lesterville vs. Garretson, 1 p.m. Thursday: A couple of recent state finalists square off in the second game on Thursday. Lesterville, the 2023 runner-up, is back in the mix after missing out on the tournament a year ago, looking for its first win in the bracket since its deep run. Garretson, the 2022 runner-up, was a semifinalist in 2024 and made the second round last year, and will be aiming to add to its list of tournament successes.
Mount Vernon vs. Tabor, 7:30 p.m. Friday: A pair of Mitchell-area clubs feature under the lights on Friday night. Tabor, ranked No. 7 in the final Class B poll, is coming off its third consecutive tournament title in District 6B. Meanwhile, Mount Vernon was snakebitten for most of the season, falling just short in a number of close games. But perhaps the Mustangs found a breakthrough in the District 4B tournament, where they secured qualification with a game to spare.
Hartford/Humboldt Wood Ducks vs. Four Corners, 1 p.m. Sunday: The first round ends with a clash of a district runner-up against a ranked squad. Four Corners challenged for the District 3B title this season for the first time since 2023, and at last season's state tournament, it won an opening-round game. Out of the always-deep Cornbelt League, the Wood Ducks own a 16-6 record and were ranked No. 5 in the final Class B poll. In 2024, the last time the Wood Ducks were in the tournament, they made a run to the quarterfinals.
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