WHITESTOWN, Ind. — Sioux Falls Little League arrived in Indiana with a clear goal: a third straight Midwest Regional Championship. After winning the state tournament, the team knew the road to Williamsport would require grit. Their first test came against Nebraska, and it tested them early.

Nebraska jumped out aggressively in the first inning, plating four runs before Sioux Falls could settle into the game. The deficit looked daunting, but the South Dakota side showed no panic. They chipped away slowly, tightening the score to 4-2 by the fourth inning. That’s when Owen Thiel stepped to the plate with two runners on base. His sharp line drive found the gap, knotting the game at 4-4 and shifting the momentum entirely.

Nebraska, however, refused to fold. They pushed a run across in the top of the fifth, reclaiming a 5-4 lead. But Sioux Falls’ bats were not finished. In the bottom half of the inning, the lineup turned over and Jordy Schapp, who had started the game on the mound, stood at the plate. Schapp — who had given up two earned runs in his pitching outing — delivered a clutch two-run double, sending the crowd into a roar and putting Sioux Falls ahead, 6-5.

Thiel, who had already been the hero in the fourth, came up again with a chance to extend the lead. He did not miss. His timely hit drove in Schapp, pushing the score to 9-5. The Sioux Falls defense held firm in the final innings, sealing the victory and giving the team its first win in regional play.

The game highlighted the depth of Sioux Falls’ lineup and the team’s ability to respond under pressure. Schapp’s dual contribution — both on the mound and at the plate — underscored the versatility that has made them a formidable force in the region. Manager and coaches praised the team’s composure, noting that the early deficit never shook their belief.

With the win, Sioux Falls keeps its three-peat dream alive. The road ahead remains arduous, but this comeback victory sends a clear message: this team knows how to fight. The regional tournament continues, and Sioux Falls will look to build on this momentum in their next matchup.