SIOUX FALLS – The Aberdeen Smittys did not waste any time setting the tone against Sioux Falls West on Thursday afternoon. The Smittys scored 11 times in their first at-bat on the way to collecting 11-4 and 7-1 American Legion baseball victories.

“I’m really proud of the way our guys responded today,” said Smittys coach Brandon Kusler. “After dropping a couple (Wednesday to Yankton), I feel like our guys played with a little chip on their shoulder today and wanted to prove something.”

The Smittys did just that, exploding for nearly a dozen runs in the top of the first inning of the opening game.

Jaiden Smith had a pair of two-run singles in the frame, Casey Vining had a two-run home run, and Cooper Eisenbeisz and Brendan Livermont also drove in runs with singles.

Aberdeen then tacked on six more runs in the second as Livermont had an RBI double, Drew Salfrank knocked in one with a single, and Andrew Woehl added a two-run double.

“In game one, obviously putting up an 11-spot in the first inning is a good way to start. We got a couple breaks in that inning, but we still earned the majority of those runs by hitting a lot of balls hard,” Kusler said, “so I give a lot of credit to our guys for coming out hot like they did.”

Salfrank had four hits and Ethan Kjenstad three in the victory.

Vining allowed just one earned run in five innings of work.

“Vining was solid on the mound for us and that’s exactly what we needed,” Kusler said. “He also helped himself on the hill with a home run in the first inning.”

Vining tripled in a run in the first inning to start the second contest. Kjenstad then drove in a run with a single and Eisenbeisz added a two-run double in a three-run third as Aberdeen broke the game open.

Vining plated another run in the fourth, before Smith drove in runs in the sixth and seventh.

“In game two we continued to have good at-bats and find a way to keep adding to our lead throughout the game,” Kusler said. “Lots of different guys contributing and coming through with runners in scoring position.”

Phillip Zens allowed just one hit in six-plus innings of work.

“Phillips Zens was stellar on the mound. Anytime you flirt with a no-hitter, you’re doing something right and he had everything working today,” Kusler said. “He got ahead of hitters, mixed pitches well, and forced a lot of weak contact. I’m really proud of his efforts; he was locked in.”

Vining had three hits to lead Aberdeen at the plate.

The Smittys host Pierre on Sunday afternoon.

“Definitely a step in the right direction today,” Kusler said.

Aberdeen Smittys (11)61 00 – 18 16 2

Sioux Falls West 030 01 – 4 5 2

Casey Vining and Andrew Woehl; Landon Weis, B. Martin (1), G. Prouty (3) and Keegan Johnston. 2B – Aberdeen Smittys, Brendan Livermont, Phillip Zens, Drew Salfrank, Woehl. 3B – Sioux Falls West, T. Harty-Olsen. HR – Aberdeen Smittys, Vining.

Aberdeen Smittys 103 101 1 – 7 10 3

Sioux Falls West 000 000 1 – 1 1 2

Phillip Zens, Gavyn Jaragoske (7) and Andrew Ristau-Richardson; Noah Willis, N. Verdoorn (6) and K. Johnston. 2B – Aberdeen Smittys, Cooper Eisenbeisz, Drew Salfrank. 3B – Aberdeen Smittys, Casey Vining.