Timberline came out on top of a pitchers' duel with Dell Rapids, 1-0, in Tuesday's nightcap of the 2009 North Dakota/South Dakota Little League Baseball State Championship tournament at Red Pesek Field.

After four scoreless innings, momentum shifted Timberline's way in the fifth. John Wilson struck out two batters and the Rapid City team threw out a runner at first to retire the side.

"John pitched the first game of the tournament for us and he showed a lot of heart tonight," coach Mark Howard said. "The team played great defense behind him."

In the bottom of the inning with two outs on the board, Nate Bolton hit a double to jumpstart the offense. Two more runners loaded the bases and Brock Hansen hit a single to drive in Bolton.

Wilson threw nine strikeouts, gave up four hits and pitched five scoreless innings for Timberline. Matt Howard earned a strike out as he retired the side in the top of the sixth to seal the win.

"We played great defensive baseball," coach Howard said. "Dell Rapids is a great team for their first year in Little League."

Ty Hoglund handled the pitching duties for Dell Rapids. Hoglund gave up four hits and threw seven strike outs.

Timberline advances to play Canyon Lake in the semifinals at 7:30 p.m. tonight.

Rushmore 6, Brandon Valley 2: Brandon Williams used one of the biggest hits of his young baseball career to propel Rushmore Little League into the semifinals of the North Dakota/South Dakota District 1 Tournament on Tuesday night with a 6-2 win over Brandon Valley.

Williams came to the plate in the bottom of the fourth with the bases loaded in a 2-2 game and one out. One mighty swing later and Rushmore would secure the lead for good as Williams cleared the bases with a towering grand slam.

Brandon Valley struck first when Jake Comeaux hit a two-run home run off of Rushmore's Eli Bujarski in the first inning. However, Bujarski settled in nicely after that allowing just two more hits in his 4-2/3 innings of work. A.J. Storm worked the final 1-1/3 to cement the win getting help from his defense with a double play in the top of the sixth.

After falling behind 2-0, Rushmore tied the game in the third inning when Bujarski opened the inning by being hit by a pitch and advanced to third on consecutive wild pitches. He scored on a groundout by Mike Pound, and Trevor Laurenz reached on a fielder's choice before

being driven home by Anthony Delachevrotiere's single.

With the victory, Rushmore advances to face Harney Little League in the first semifinal tonight at 5:30 p.m.