SF Little League rolls to title after opening loss

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) — The Sioux Falls Little League team is headed back to the Midwest Regional, but the journey started with a bump in the road.

Sioux Falls saw a six run lead slip away in their opening game of the South Dakota Little League State Tournament. Canyon Lake scored seven runs in the sixth to steal a 10-9 win and push Sioux Falls to the brink of elimination.

“We had that in the back of our mind and used it as fuel to go through the next game and get through it all,” Sioux Falls player Ryan Henry said.

“The way that the kids bounced back and never got down on each other or their attitudes and the fact that they always believed we were going to comeback and win this tournament,” coach Nick Kortan said.

The team responded by scoring 50 runs in their next four wins on their way to claiming the state championship.

“We hit the ball incredibly well. I think we had a lot of people in the stands that were turning their heads, listening to the crack of the bat from the Sioux Falls squad,” Kortan said.

Pitching was key for Sioux Falls as well, as they allowed just five runs in their four victories.

“The key in any of these tournaments is pitching. Managing the pitching, trying to manage the pitch counts and all of that sort of thing,” Kortan said.

“Our pitchers did really good this weekend and we’ve just got to continue to do that going into Indy,” Sioux Falls player Griffin Sommer said.

Now, the team is practicing ahead of the Midwest Regional, keeping their focus on the good they can create in a week and a half.

“What we talk about with the boys is that we’re never as bad as we think we are and we’re never as good as we think we are,” Kortan said. “We’ve got to turn the page on the bad days and remember the good days and keep building on those,” Kortan said.

The Midwest Regional will be played in Whitestown, Ind. Sioux Falls will play the North Dakota state champ at 3 p.m. on Friday, August 2nd.

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