FRIDAY, JUNE 8:
Baseball:   Castlewood @ Brookings Cubby’s, 8:00pm
   Aurora A’s @ Clark, 8:00pm
   Clark @ Volga Post 114 (DH), 6:00pm
   Bullets 16’s @ Yankton Tournament
   Tea 14’s vs. Bombers Gray @ Flandreau

Golf:   SDGA-First Dakota National Bank Junior Golf Tournament @ Rapid City

SATURDAY, JUNE 9:
Baseball:  Watertown @ Brookings Cubby’s, 7:30pm
   Sisseton @ Volga Cormorants (DH), 1:00pm
   Bullets 16’s @ Yankton Tournament
   Bombers Black @ Vermillion (DH), Noon
   Bombers Gray vs. Harrisburg; Canistota/Montrose @ Flandreau
   Friends of Baseball Tournament, Medary Complex

Golf:   SDGA Two-Man Championship @ Yankton

Softball:  Brookings Blast Tournament, Southbrook Park

SUNDAY, JUNE 10:
Baseball:  Brandon Merchants @ Brookings Cubby’s, 2:00pm
   Bombers Gray @ Flandreau
   Friends of Baseball Tournament, Medary Complex

Golf:   SDGA Two-Man Championship @ Yankton

Softball:  Brookings Blast Tournament, Southbrook Park

MONDAY, JUNE 11:
Baseball:  Volga Post 114 @ Aurora (DH), 6:00pm

Golf:   SDGA-First Dakota National Bank Junior Golf Tournament @ Yankton, Spearfish, Aberdeen

TUESDAY, JUNE 12:
Baseball:  Brookings Bandits @ Watertown (DH), 5:00pm
   Pierre @ Bullets 16’s (DH), 2:00pm

Golf:   SDGA-First Dakota National Bank Junior Golf Tournament @ Mitchell

BANDITS VS. SF…The Brookings Bandits ran their record to 8-0 with Thursday’s sweep of Sioux Falls Post 15 East. 
    Skylar Cary pounded out four hits and two RBI, and Thomas McMacken added two hits and four runs batted in as Brookings won the opener 13-3 in six innings.  The Bandits led 7-1 after two innings.  Matt Thomas allowed six hits, no walks and struck out five in going the distance.
    The Bandits scored four runs in the bottom of the sixth to win the nightcap 6-3.  Cary drove in three runs and Landon Busch two to spark Brookings.  Corey Roach threw six innings to pick up the win, with Busch pitching the seventh for the save.  Connor Schaefbauer and Austin Kost each had two hits for Post 15 East.   

BULLETS 15’s…Aberdeen swept the Brookings Bullets 15’s Thursday in Aberdeen. 
    Aberdeen won the opener 4-1, as Brookings managed just three singles in the game.  Aberdeen finished the doubleheader with a 3-2 win – overcoming four errors to complete the sweep.

BANDITS…The Brookings American Legion baseball team went 6-0 to win the season-opening Lewis and Clark tournament in Yankton.  Head coach Rob Hirrschoff says pitching was solid, the defense committed just three errors, and the offense cranked out over 40 hits.  97633   :26   “guy behind him”.
    The early schedule doesn’t get easier.  The Bandits have dates against Sioux Falls East, Sioux Falls West and Brandon Valley before traveling to the Spearfish tournament.  97634   :25   “of home games”. 
    Brookings Bandits coach Rob Hirrschoff.

FOB…About two-dozen baseball teams roll into Brookings this weekend for the Friends of Baseball tournament.  Pool play will take up Saturday, with games for placings on Sunday.  F-O-B communications director Aaron Jorenby says the Medary complex will be hopping.  97635   :14   “in the U-10”.
    Teams from Yankton, Ruthton, Minnesota and elsewhere are in the field.  A tourney highlight is Saturday night’s “Home Run Derby”.

BLAST SOFTBALL…The Brookings Blast will host their softball tournament Saturday and Sunday at Southbrook Park.  There will be play in girl's 18, 16, 14,12, and 10 & under divisions.

SDGA JUNIOR GOLF…The SDGA’s junior golf tour made a stop Thursday at Brookings Country Club.  The results:
11-Under Girls: 1:  Lauren Wittler, Onida, 69
12-13 Girls: 1.  Brooke Piearson, 95;  2. Madison Ammann, 105;  5. Cassidy Bridges, 139.
14-15 Girls: 1.  Katie Bartlett, Pierre, 87;  Samantha Algood, Volga, 133;  Cylie Pastian, DeSmet, 148.
16-18 Girls: 1.  Kali Trautman, Clear Lake, 78;  2. Lauren Fitts, 81;  4. Morgan Schwartz, White, 98.
11-Under Boys: 1.  Devan Weelborg, Bryant, 47;  2. 2.  Kaden Vugteveen, 52.
12-13 Boys: 1.  Stuart Farrand, Aberdeen, 87;  3.  Zach Steen, 89;  Kade Groos, Colman, 97;  Nate Christensen, Volga, 127.
14-15 Boys: 1.  Riley Duncanson, 72;  2. Ben Koisti, Arlington, 76;  Nathaniel Algood, Volga, 89;  Dyllan Weelborg, Bryant,  101;  Jacob Nelson, Volga, 107.
16-18 Boys: 1.  Cameron Huff, Aberdeen, 76.  2.  Jake Steen, 77;  Cory Byers, White, 84;  Trent Johnson, Hendricks, 84.

NCAA TRACK…Kansas State's Erik Kynard successfully defended his high jump title Thursday in the NCAA outdoor track and field championships, clearing 7 feet, 8 inches.
    Kynard held off Indiana's Derek Drouin in a thrilling final, though his stab at tying the collegiate record of 7-9 3/4 fell short.
Boise State's Kurt Felix won the decathlon with 8,062 points, while Tim Glover defended his title in the javelin with a throw of 268 feet.
    Southern Illinois's Jeneva McCall, won the women's hammer throw at 225-3 after finishing second last year, and TCU's Whitney Gipson took the long jump at 22-4 1/2.
    Texas A&M's Natosha Rogers won the 10,000 meters in 32 minutes, 41.63 seconds. LSU star Kimberlyn Duncan topped her own world-leading time in the 200 by qualifying for the final in 22.19.

STATE “AA”…The South Dakota High School Activities Association Board will try combined state tournaments for “AA “ girls and boys basketball in 2016 and 2017.
    Association board chair Terry Nebelsick says there was overwhelming support for the change.  97628   :31   “in the fall”.
    When the Sioux Falls event center opens, they’ll join Rapid City as communities with adjacent floors that can be used for a combined state tournament - Nebelsick says that's what’s needed.  97629   :22   “out there”.
    Nebelsick says the 2016 and ‘17 events will be a test before deciding on a long term plan. 
    There was support for keeping an eight team, 12-game tournament – and there was an attempt to split the six state basketball tournaments into three weekends, but facilities in Sioux Falls and Rapid City aren’t available the first weekend in March. Nebelsick says there shouldn't be any issue with second reading approval, although a schedule could take time to devise.

DITTMAN RETURNS…A familiar face is coming back to Dakota State University to lead the Trojans’ athletic programs. Former women’s basketball coach Jeff Dittman has been named athletic director and women’s basketball coach.
    Dittman was the head women's basketball coach at Hastings College in Nebraska for four years. Prior to that, he was the head coach for the Lady T’s for thirteen seasons. Dittman says coming back to Madison is an advantage for his family.   97636   :27   “full time”.
    Dittman says he can balance both roles as administrator and coach.  97637   :22   “with those roles”.
    Dittmann was 91-42 overall at Hastings, leading the Broncos to a NAIA Division II runner-up finish in 2009 and a pair of NAIA “Sweet Sixteen” appearances in 2010 and 2012.  He did keep tabs on the Trojan programs.  97638   :12   “where they’re at”.
    Dittman takes over for Gene Wockenfuss, who stepped down as athletic director in April - and replaces Joe Reints, who resigned as women’s basketball coach in May.

LAYLIN…The head coach of the North American Hockey League’s Brookings Blizzard expects a battle for spots during camp later this month in Alexandria, MN.
    Cory Laylin says players will vie for 25 roster spots, and an opportunity to play in front of Division I scouts.  He says a solid core returns from last year’s Alexandria Blizzard team that won 40 games.  97630   :36   “the other thing”.
    Laylin’s impressed with the players selected in last week’s draft.  97631   :58   “6-2, 200 pounds”.
    Laylin played professionally for 16 seasons in Europe – starting as a forward, then shifting to defense.  His coaching style will zero in on defense.  97632   :15   “it’s a mess”.
    Laylin says some very good players will leave the Blizzard camp in tears, not making the roster – he says competition will be that keen.