Clark downs H/H Wood Ducks, reach first-ever Class B state amateur title game

Aug. 16—MITCHELL — The Clark Traders have spent the 2026 postseason finding ways to win games they probably had no business winning. On Friday night at Cadwell Park, they found another one. After trailing by four runs early, committing five errors and being outhit 12-8, the Traders continued their remarkable postseason run by rallying past the Hartford/Humboldt Wood Ducks 7-6 in the Class B state amateur baseball tournament semifinals. And with that, Clark is headed somewhere no Clark baseball team has gone in 41 years. The Traders will play in the Class B state amateur championship game for the first time in club history at 2 p.m. Sunday at Cadwell Park, following the Class A championship between the Harrisburg Woodies and Renner Monarchs. The last Clark team to reach a Class B state championship game was the Clark Cubs 41 years ago. "We were down early, just like we have been in every single game this tournament, and the guys just stuck with it," Clark active manager and third-base coach David Grantham said. "The perseverance, the patience, and again, the breaks were going our way. They all believe in themselves and each other." Clark entered the postseason as the No. 6 seed in the Eastern Dakota League tournament, one of four teams from the league to qualify for the state tournament. The Traders have now improved to 10-8-1 and have won all four of their state tournament games despite trailing in every one of them. Other than a 10-3 victory over Tabor in the second round, all three of Clark's other tournament wins have come by one run and Friday was no different. Hartford/Humboldt, making its first appearance in the state semifinal round, appeared to have control early. The Wood Ducks jumped to a 4-0 lead and carried that advantage into the top of the fifth inning before the Traders found their rhythm. Zach Toben sparked the comeback with a two-RBI single, bringing Clark within two. With two outs, Grayson Florey delivered again, ripping a two-RBI double into center field to tie the game at 4-all. Hartford/Humboldt answered in the bottom half of the inning when CJ Den Boer delivered a two-RBI double, restoring the Wood Ducks' lead at 6-4. But Clark has made a habit of refusing to go away, as Toben brought the Traders within one with a sacrifice fly in the sixth, scoring Watson Grantham. Clark then manufactured the tying run on a fielder's choice before Florey came around to score on a passed ball in the seventh, giving the Traders their first lead of the night at 7-6, which they did not relinquish. Toben, who had already carried the bulk of the pitching workload, took the mound for the ninth and recorded the final out himself for the strikeout. As the final out was secured, the emotion of what Clark had accomplished finally poured out. "Going up to that last batter and got to the full count with two outs, I just had to smile," Toben said. "I'm not trying to equate it to any dream-like effect, but we've all been there. We want a moment where it's like, 'It's either you or me. One of us is going to have a good time after this pitch.'" Toben tossed a 134-pitch complete game with six strikeouts and allowed six runs (two earned) on 12 hits with two walks issued. At the plate, Toben drove in three runs with a hit and two walks. Florey led Clark offensively with three hits and two RBIs, while Grantham added two hits and scored twice. Jakob Steen and Jack Heesch each added a hit. Despite earning the victory, the Traders committed five errors in the game, while Hartford/Humboldt played error-free baseball. "It's tough to overcome the errors," Grantham said. "The ride home with my son (Watson Grantham), it's like, 'Dude, errors give up runs.' But again, that speaks to the experience and confidence that each of these guys have shoulder-to-shoulder to persevere through anything." For Hartford/Humboldt, Brodie Herr and JJ Jesson each collected three hits and drove in a run. Jesson continued his power surge with his second home run in as many days, launching a shot to right-center field in the fourth inning. Chad Hunt added two hits, while Keaton Vessells and Den Boer had two RBIs apiece. Tyler Tappe started for the Wood Ducks and allowed six hits and five runs with five strikeouts and five walks in 5 1/3 innings. Curtis Flint suffered the loss in relief, giving up two runs on one hit with three walks and two strikeouts in 1 1/3 innings. Brody Jacobson also made a relief appearance. Hartford/Humboldt finished its season 19-7-1. For Clark, meanwhile, the improbable ride continues on championship Sunday. And for a community that has waited 41 years to see its baseball team back in the Class B state championship game, Sunday represents an opportunity unlike any Clark has had in generations. "We had an under .500 team coming into the tournament, and all of sudden the guys were here and able to find consistency," David Grantham said. "Regardless of what town you are from, we know that all the little guys are rooting for us and that's what this is about coming here tomorrow in the state championship game. And 41 years is a long time since somebody has been here from Clark, so hopefully we can make something special happen against a tough Alexandria team."