MITCHELL – The Plankinton FM Bankers overcame a 7-1 deficit and eventually eliminated the Clark Traders 10-8 in 11 innings during the Class B State Amateur Baseball Tournament Thursday afternoon at Cadwell Park.

Clark bolted out to an early lead with two runs in the second, two in the third and three more in the fourth. However, Plankinton kept chipping away. The Bankers scored four times in the fifth (three coming on a home run by Cole Knippling that cleared the scoreboard in right field) and once in the sixth, to close to within 7-6.

The Traders added a run in the eighth, only to have Plankinton knot the score with two runs in the bottom half of the frame. After two scoreless innings, Plankinton eventually capped its game-long rally when Chris Hill hit a two-run home run over the right field fence.

Hill finished with three hits and knocked in four. Knippling drove in three, all on his homer. Plankinton improved to 19-1 on the season with the victory.

Clark’s Tyler Brinka had two hits and drove in a pair. Nicolai Arbach, who pitched for Lake Norden-Badger in last weekend’s State B Legion tourney, struck out seven in five innings of work for the Traders.

Clark Traders 022 300 010 00 – 8 15 0

Plankinton F&M Bankers 100 041 020 02 – 10 12 2

Nicolai Arbach, Zach Toben (6) and Bryce DesLauriers; Josh Enquist, Travis Gant (10) and Trevor Boyd. HR – Plankinton F&M Bankers, Cole Knippling, Chris Hill.