MAPLE GROVE, MINN. – The Aberdeen Smittys dropped their final two American Legion baseball games at the Gopher Classic on Sunday. The Smittys fell to the Rapid City Post 22 Hardhats 13-5 before suffering a 10-2 setback against Maple Grove.

The Smittys played from behind against Rapid City. The Hardhats scored two runs in each of the first two innings to take an early 4-0 lead.

The Smittys answered a run in the top of the third inning via a bases-loaded walk by Casey Vining, scoring Ethan Kjenstad. However, Rapid City scored two more runs in the bottom half of the inning on a two-run home run, making the score 6-1.

Smittys coach Brandon Kusler gave credit to the Hardhats for their performance.

“They’re a really good hitting team and they definitely had their way today,” Kusler said.

The Smittys best inning on offense came in the fourth when they scored four runs on a pair of home runs to cut the deficit to 6-5. Drew Salfrank smacked a three-run home run to pull the Smittys to within two, before Zane Backous stepped to the plate and drilled a solo home run to right field.

“Proud of the way our guys battled back after an early deficit to make it a 5-6 game in the top of the fourth,” Kusler said. “Salfrank and Backous had back-to-back homers to close the gap to one run, but unfortunately that’s as close as we would get.”

Once again, the Hardhats had an answer, scoring on a three-run home run in the bottom of the fourth to extend their lead to 9-5.

“It was kind of a home run derby, and unfortunately they put more out than we did,” Kusler said. “But credit to them, too, as they were able to manufacture runs in multiple ways.”

The dagger came in the bottom of the sixth when Rapid City hit its third home run of the day, this time a two-run shot to center field, before the Hardhats added two more runs for the final margin of difference.

Backous pitched 4 1/3 innings, allowing nine runs on 12 hits, while striking out two.

“I thought Backous battled really well on the mound,” Kusler said. “It was a tough day against a very good lineup with the wind blowing out on a short field.”

Salfrank led the team with three hits and drove in three runs.

Against Maple Grove, the Smittys struck first but fell behind and were unable to recover.

Aberdeen opened the scoring with two runs in the top of the first when Vining smacked a two-run homer. However, it was all Maple Grove after that, as the host team evened the score in the bottom half of the inning, scored another run in the second, and then added five more runs in the fourth.

Maple Grove then added one run in each of the last two innings to cap off the scoring.

“I think fatigue started to set in a little bit with our guys, being the fifth game in three days,” Kusler said. “We looked tired on the mound and defensively, and Maple Grove took advantage and put pressure on us all game long.”

The Smittys had just six hits compared to Maple Grove’s 16 hits. Jaiden Smith topped the Smittys with a pair of hits, including a double.

The Smittys, 23-15, will return home to host Huron in a doubleheader on Thursday.

“We’ll look to bounce back Thursday for Senior Night vs. Huron,” Kusler said. “We’re getting down to the wire here with the last week of the regular season, and I think our guys are prepared for the postseason. We just have to get healthy and clean up a few things. We’re right there, and I’m excited for where the team is headed.”

Aberdeen Smittys 001 400 – 5 5 2

Rapid City Post 22 Hardhats 222 304 – 13 16 0

Zane Backous, Charlie Phillips (5) and Andrew Ristau-Richardson; Palmer Jacobs, Brian Atkinson (4) and Phillip Bentz. 2B – Rapid City Post 22 Hardhats, Alex Dietrich 2, Bentz. 3B – Rapid City Post 22 Hardhats, Zeke Farlee. HR – Aberdeen Smittys, Drew Salfrank, Backous; Rapid City Post 22 Hardhats, Hayden Holec, Dietrich, Ridge Inhofer.

Aberdeen Smittys 200 000 – 2 6 1

Maple Grove, Minn. 210 511 – 10 16 0

Jaiden Smith, Andrew Ristau-Richardson (4), Charlie Phillips (6) and Zane Backous; Sam Kliber and J. Boyum. 2B – Aberdeen Smittys, Smith; Maple Grove, Kliber, Kellen Riskedahl, Dylan Vokal, Tanner Albeck, Brian O’Dwyer. HR – Aberdeen Smittys, Casey Vining; Maple Grove, Sam Hanson.