2026 South Dakota Class A State Tournament Roundup

May 25, 2026
Dayne McNaughton
Upper Midwest, Prep Baseball

Sioux Falls, SD - The 2026 South Dakota High School baseball tournament had it all. Dominant pitching, clutch hitting, and sharp situational baseball, with crowds showing up for their schools and communities to make it a state tournament worth remembering. With all of the excitement, multiple players shined bright, here are those players that caught our eye last Friday at the State Quarterfinals.

UPCOMING DAKOTAS EVENTS

EVENT	DATE	LOCATION
Dakota Top Prospect Games (Invite-Only)	6/2/2026	Sioux Falls, SD
Summer ID-Fargo	6/8/2026	West Fargo, ND
Summer ID-Fargo - Session II	8/13/2026	West Fargo, ND
Summer ID-Bismarck	8/14/2026	Bismarck, ND
Summer ID-Rapid City	8/15/2026	Rapid City, SD
Summer ID-Sioux Falls	8/16/2026	Sioux Falls, SD

Brody Jacobson SS / RHP / Jefferson, SD / 2026

Jacobson performed like a bona fide leader for the Cavaliers. Brody got the action started with a double off the wall in right field to give his team an early 1-0 lead. The Northern State commit added two more RBIs on an RBI single in the 6th, giving Jefferson what they needed to pull away with a win.

Brody Jacobson (2026, SS, @SFJeffersonBsbl) gets the party started with an RBI double.

Has been the spark plug all year long for the Cavs.@NSUWOLVES_BS commit@brodyjacobson3 | #SDStateTourney pic.twitter.com/Y5OfyU9Zx8
— Prep Baseball Dakotas (@PBDakotas) May 22, 2026

Everett Salonen RHP / Jefferson, SD / 2027

Rankings StateRank: 6 / POS: 4

Jefferson's junior came to play in his start on Friday. In rainy, feels-like 45-degree May weather, Salonen maintained an 86-88 mph fastball the whole outing, flashing an improved 77-79 mph slider with depth. Salonen went 5 innings, scattering 2 hits, striking out 6, surrendering 0 earned runs.

Everett Salonen (2027, RHP, @SFJeffersonBsbl) came out hot in rainy 45 degree weather.

Has lived 86-88 with his fastball, throwing a biting 77-79 slider when needed.

No. 6 ranked 2027, #PBFG25 alum.@EverettSalonen | @prepbaseball | #SDStateTourney pic.twitter.com/zKNgt12it1
— Prep Baseball Dakotas (@PBDakotas) May 22, 2026

Noah Kuenzi 3B / Jefferson, SD / 2027

Rankings StateRank: 27 / POS: 1

Kuenzi shined on both sides of the ball on Friday. The junior manned the hot corner well, making an outstanding diving grab on a ball in the 5-6 hole to save a run for his pitcher. Kuenzi's bat showed easy pop, as he collected two hits on the day.

Noah Kuenzi (2027, 3B, @SFJeffersonBsbl) drives a pull side single.

Fluidity to the swing, no. 27 ranked player in the Dakotas.

4-0 Jefferson after 2.@Nkuenz17 | #SDStateTourney pic.twitter.com/ap0XrF4Zpz
— Prep Baseball Dakotas (@PBDakotas) May 22, 2026

Brady Waddell SS / RHP / Stevens, SD / 2027

Rankings StateRank: 4 / POS: 1

Brady has taken big strides on the mound, especially from an in-game look. Waddell sat 88-89 T90 in 7 innings pitched, pounding a 77-79 mph slider, giving another look with a 79-80 mph changeup. Waddell finished with a final line of 7 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 11 Ks. Another top uncommitted arm in the Dakotas.

Brady Waddell (2027, RHP/SS, @stevens_raiders) has been ripping a three-pitch mix through 4 complete.#PBFG25 alum, no. 4 ranked player in the ‘27 class.

FB: 87-89 T90
SL: 77-79
CH: 79-80 @BradyWaddell7 | @prepbaseball | #SDStateTourney pic.twitter.com/Y6i1TrnbrZ
— Prep Baseball Dakotas (@PBDakotas) May 22, 2026

Sam Gokie / Yankton, SD / 2026

As we previouslly highlighted, Sam Gokie doesn't give anything free on the mound. That trend continued in his start against Stevens in the semifinals. Gokie ran his fastball up to 85, setteling into the low 80s, throwing his breaking ball for strikes and whiffs. The Mount Marty commit would walk off the game for the Bucks with a sac fly to deep left center.

THE BUCKS WALK IT OFF ‼️

Sam Gokie sends the Yankton faithful home happy with a sac fly to deep center.

2-1 final 🦌@YBABaseball | #SDStateTourney pic.twitter.com/M5usaMbfmz
— Prep Baseball Dakotas (@PBDakotas) May 22, 2026

Grady Wolbrink RHP / Harrisburg, SD / 2027

Grady got the ball for the Tigers in the quarterfinal matchup and showed positive stuff on the hill. The 6-3, 225 lb righty got up to 85 in his first inning of work, with a tight breaking ball. Wolbrink would go 6 innings, allowing 2 earned runs, working around baserunners the whole outing.

Grady Wolbrink (2027, RHP, Harrisburg) with an intriguing look.

Up to 85 in the first, has worked through traffic thus far.@GradyWolbrink | #SDStateTourney pic.twitter.com/kfehUzzrB4
— Prep Baseball Dakotas (@PBDakotas) May 23, 2026

Hunter Halajian LHP / Watertown, SD / 2026

Rankings StateRank: 34 / POS: 3

Halajian was unfazed facing the number 1 seed in the tournament. The southpaw went 6 and 2/3 innings, striking out 8, giving up 3 runs to a tough Harrisburg lineup. The lefty tossed majority changeup and sliders sitting in the mid-70s, sparingly throwing a fastball at 82-84. A big time competitor for the Arrows.

Hunter Halajian (2026, LHP, @Post17Baseball) brought some swagger to the mound at Augie.

Operating in the low 80s T84. Mixing a mid 70s CH and BB.

3 scoreless for the @PB_Uncommitted arm so far.@hunterhalajian | #SDStateTourney pic.twitter.com/KNISzWY1MX
— Prep Baseball Dakotas (@PBDakotas) May 23, 2026

Treydon Hofer C / 3B / Harrisburg, SD / 2027

Rankings StateRank: 17 / POS: 2

Hofer was a leader behind the plate for the Tigers. The junior backstop smoked 2 potential base stealers to help Wolbrink. Hofer powered the Tigers offense, ripping an opposite field double driving in 2 runs. A catcher for coaches to know into the summer circuit.

Trey Hofer (2027, C, Harrisburg) has had a great showing today.

Ripped a 2 RBI double earlier in the game, just gunned out his second runner of the day 🎥👇

4-3 Watertown after 6 complete@HoferTrey | #SDStateTourney pic.twitter.com/zDEWtCo4MH
— Prep Baseball Dakotas (@PBDakotas) May 23, 2026

Bennett Duncan RHP / 3B / O'Gorman High School, SD / 2026

Rankings StateRank: 6 / POS: 5

Duncan was shaky to start his outing, but dialed it in to give the Knights length. The Augustana commit sat 84-86 T87, working with two distinct breaking balls. Has the potential to be an impact arm at the next level.

After shaky command to start the game, Duncan has settled in for 2 scoreless innings.

FB: 84-86 T87
SL: 75-76 (sharp)
CB: 70-72@bennettd21 | #SDStateTourney https://t.co/Qcd6gXnZMB pic.twitter.com/AZce9wpBxc
— Prep Baseball Dakotas (@PBDakotas) May 23, 2026

Bryton Stroh / Brandon Valley / 2026

The Lynx two way talent collected a big infield RBI single late in the game, as well as closed the final 3 outs of the ballgame. A scrappy gamer, now a two time state champion.

Bryton Stroh (2027, OF, @BVLynxBaseball) legs out an infield single to tie the game up

5-5 in the bottom of the 5th@BrytonStroh32 | #SDStateTourney pic.twitter.com/zj35B3KvUV
— Prep Baseball Dakotas (@PBDakotas) May 23, 2026

HEAT SHEET - STATE QUARTERFINALS

Name	SCHOOL	FB VELO
Jack Blomgren	Brandon Valley	91
Brady Waddell	Rapid City Stevens	90
Bennett Duncan	Bishop O'Gorman	87
Bryton Stroh	Brandon Valley	85
Grady Wolbrink	Harrisburg	85
Sam Gokie	Yankton	85
Hunter Halajian	Watertown	84