Brandon — The Parkston Rays staged a stunning late comeback Sunday to claim the Class B state amateur baseball championship.
Facing a five-run deficit entering the eighth inning, Parkston erupted with a decisive rally and held on for a 10-8 victory over the Hartford/Humboldt Gamecocks at First National Bank Field.
First Championship in Program History
The title is the first in the Rays’ three-year program history and returns state hardware to the Sunshine League for the first time since the Alexandria Angels won in 2020. It is also Parkston’s first state crown since town rival Mudcats’ 2017 triumph.
Manager Praises Team Resilience
Manager Doug Sudbeck praised his team’s resilience after the win, noting the club’s habit of late-inning comebacks and the players’ refusal to quit under pressure.
Game Summary
Early Innings
Hartford/Humboldt (19-9) struck early, putting three runs on the board in the opening frame. Joe Hanisch produced the first run-scoring hit and Devon Garry followed with a two-run single to complete the three-run burst.
Parkston’s starter Carter Sommer worked through traffic in the early innings but th...