BROOKINGS, S.D. — The Marshall 15U VFW Orange baseball team got off to a strong start at the Brookings tournament on Friday. On day one of the three-day event, Orange won each of its two games to put itself in pole position to come out of its pool in first place.

Game 1

Marshall 6, Beresford 4

Cannon Craigmile threw 3 2/3 scoreless innings while driving in three runs to pave the way for Marshall to claim a 6-4 win over Beresford Junior Legion in their tournament opener.

Marshall lead 4-3 when Craigmile entered the game with one out in the fourth inning and runners on second and third. While one run scored on a fly out, Craigmile got out of the inning without further damage and shut out Beresford for the remainder of the game. He allowed just one hit and a pair of walks while striking out seven of the 14 batters he faced.

Marshall reclaimed the lead in the bottom of the fifth when Trae Bailey walked and Cannon Craigmilecame up with an RBI triple to give Orange a 5-4 advantage. He then scored on a passed ball with two outs to give Marshall a 6-4 cushion. They retained that lead for the remainder of the game.

Beresford scored in the top of the first but Marshall responded expeditiously in the bottom of the frame. Noah Frazee and Tyler Kraft walked to put runners on the corners and Frazee then scored on a wild pitch to tie the game up at 1-1.

Consecutive walks to Ethan Weedman and Bailey loaded the bases with two outs when Craigmile came up with a two-run double to put Marshall on top. After another walk to Andrew Lee, Bailey scored on a wild pitch to make the score 4-1.

Beresford added another two runs in the top of the second to make it a one-run game but wasn’t able to tie the game up until the fourth.

Kraft threw the first 3 1/3 innings for Marshall, allowing three earned runs and one unearned on four hits and six walks.

Game 2

Marshall 11, Madison 7

A late series of runs from Marshall VFW Orange allowed the 15U team to edge past Madison for an 11-7 win at the Brookings Tournament on Friday.

The game was tied at 6-6 heading into the sixth inning when Marshall pulled ahead. Noah Frazee reached on an error and Tyler Kraft walked with two outs, putting runners on the corners when Jackson Sirovy stepped up to bat. After Kraft stole second, Sirovy hit a two-run single to give Orange an 8-6 lead.

Marshall added to its lead in the seventh. Trae Bailey and Andrew Lee reached on a single and an error respectively. Cannon Craigmile replaced Bailey on first via a fielder’s choice and was later caught at home on an Easton Greenwood single, putting two away with runners on the corners. Yet, Frazee hit an RBI single to extend Marshall’s lead to three runs and, after Ethan Boeck was hit by a pitch, Kraft hit a two-run single to make the score 11-6.

Madison scored one run in the bottom of the inning but Marshall got a strike out and a line out to seal the win.

Bailey earned the win on the mound for Marshall after allowing three earned runs and one unearned over 3 2/3 frames of relief. He allowed two hits and eight walks while striking out four batters.

Craigmile relieved bailey with the bases loaded and no outs in the seventh but, after allowing one inherited runner to score, he got out of the jam without allowing a base runner.

Marshall scored one run in the second inning and another four in the third to jump out to an early lead. Yet, Madison came back with three runs in the bottom of the frame, another in the fourth, and outscored Marshall 2-1 in the fifth to knot the game up at 6-6.

Frazee, Sirovy, Weedman and Craigmile each had a pair of hits for Marshall. Frazee also had a walk and three runs scored while Sirovy and Craigmile each logged three RBIs.

VFW Orange improves to 15-8 with the wins. Marshall, now the only 2-0 team in the Medary Pool, will wrap up pool play against 0-2 Brookings today at 1 p.m. at Erv Heuther Field.