FEATURE STORY

State Championship Game
Rapid City Post 22 avenges earlier loss, defeats Post 320 for title
    (08.02.2009) - Rapid City Post 22 is back on top.
    The Hardhats won their 36th American Legion Baseball State championship Sunday night, defeating cross-town rival Rapid City Post 320 6-2 at Floyd Fitzgerald Stadium.
    Post 22 pitcher Dana Hill hurled a complete game five-hitter. He struck out seven and walked one, finishing with 103 pitches - 74 for strikes. Hill won both of the games he started in the tournament.
    Jordan Carlson provided the big blow for Post 22, a three-run home run over the right field fence to put the Hardhats up 3-1 in the fourth.
    Jarrett Jensen had three hits and an RBI, and Hill added two hits in the effort.
    Brandon Kiewel went 3-for-3 with a solo home run to lead the Stars.
    Brad Winkelman allowed five hits and four runs in four innings, taking the loss.
    Kolton Emery of Post 22 earned American Legion Player of the Year honors. He hit .458 (11-for-24) at the plate, and was even better on the mound. He won both games he pitched, striking out 27 batters while walking just two, finishing the tournament with a 1.12 ERA.
    Post 320's Zach Cimburek was 11-for-19, hitting .579 for the tournament to earn the Big Stick Award.
    Mitchell won the Porter T. Talcott Sportsmanship Trophy.
    Post 22 will advance to the Central Plains Regional, playing Festus, Mo., in the opening game of the tournament at 9:30 a.m. Thursday morning in Minnetonka, Minn.
    BOX SCORE: Rapid City Post 22 6, Rapid City Post 320 2.

AWARDS

PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Kolton Emery, Rapid City Post 22
   Post 22 infielder/pitcher Kolton Emery took home South Dakota American Legion Baseball Player of the Year honors.
   Emery hit .458 (11-for-24) during the tournament with three doubles and seven RBIs.
   On the mound, he was dominant, allowing only two earned runs in 16 innings of work, recording a pair of complete game victories.
   He struck out 27 batters while walking only two, allowing 13 hits.

BIG STICK AWARD
Zach Cimburek, Rapid City Post 320
   Stars centerfielder Zach Cimburek had a tremendous tournament at the plate, earning Big Stick Award honors.
   He went 11-for-19, a .579 average, with two doubles, a triple, a homer and four RBIs.
   Cimburek hit for the cycle in Saturday's loss to Mitchell.

PORTER T. TALCOTT SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD
Mitchell Post 18