STURGIS – The Aberdeen Smittys overcame a three-run deficit to cruise past the Sturgis Titans 12-3 in an American Legion baseball game on Tuesday. Game 2 was canceled due to inclement weather.

Sturgis opened the scoring in the second inning with a trio of runs, putting the Smittys in an early hole. Aberdeen struggled offensively in the first three innings, thanks in part to the efforts of Sturgis pitcher Kane Peters. However, the Smittys found a way to rebound, and coach Brandon Kusler was pleased with how the team turned the game around.

“Proud of the way our guys battled back after a rough start offensively,” Kusler said. “Credit to the Peters kid for attacking our hitters and keeping us off balance.”

The Smittys scored their first run in the top of the fourth inning on an RBI single from Jaiden Smith, driving home Casey Vining to cut the deficit to 3-1. The Smittys took the lead with three runs in the fifth inning. Vining hit an RBI single bringing in Brendan Livermont, while Drew Salfrank scored on the play on a Sturgis error. Later, Phillip Zens smacked an RBI triple, bringing in Vining to give the Smittys a 4-3 lead.

“We were able to take the lead just before the hour and a half rain delay and that was big for us to gain momentum and carry that into the last couple innings,” Kusler said.

The Smittys took the momentum and ran with it, scoring four runs in each of the last two innings.

In the sixth inning, Ethan Kjenstad scored on a wild pitch before Cooper Eisenbeisz scored on an RBI single by Zane Backous, extending the Smittys lead to 6-3. Vining later hit a two-run double, plating Backous and Salfrank, to give the Smittys an 8-3 lead heading into the final frame.

Backous had a two-run single, bringing in Kjenstad and Eisenbeisz in the seventh, before Salfrank doubled in a run, and Vining capped the scoring on an RBI single.

Salfrank led the Smittys on the mound, pitching 4 2/3 innings and allowing three runs on four hits, while striking out three. Smith pitched 2 1/3 innings in relief, allowing zero runs on two hits, while striking out one.

Kusler was pleased with the pitching on the day.

“Drew was good for us on the mound and filled up the strike zone and we played good defense behind him,” Kusler said. “Jaiden came up big in relief for us, too.”

Offensively, the Smittys totaled 14 hits. Vining finished with four hits and four RBI, while Backous had three hits and three RBI. Salfrank had two hits and drove in one.

The Smittys, 18-11, return home to face Mitchell in a doubleheader at 5 p.m. Friday at Fossum Field.

Although the squad was unable to play both games against Sturgis, Kusler was pleased his squad picked one up victory.

“A little upset that we couldn’t play both games, but happy to get the win,” Kusler said. “We’re looking forward to being back home on Friday.”

Aberdeen Smittys 000 134 4 – 12 14 0

Sturgis Titans 030 000 0 – 3 6 2

Drew Salfrank, Jaiden Smith (5) and Andrew Woehl; Kane Peters, Beau Peters (6) and Evan Stroud. 2B – Aberdeen Smittys, Zane Backous, Casey Vining, Salfrank; Sturgis Titans, Aidan Wood. 3B – Aberdeen Smittys – Phillip Zens; Sturgis, Aidan Wood.