WATERTOWN – Watertown won a pitcher’s dual in the opener and a slugfest in the nightcap to sweep the Aberdeen Smittys in American Legion baseball Tuesday night.
The hosts won the first game 3-0, before taking the second contest 14-8.
“We played as a team … playing a bit of small ball, swiping bases, and feeding off each other’s success. We also did a great job of keeping our composure and staying true to our values,” said Smittys coach Nathan Gonnelly. “However, our ceiling is much higher than what we showcased. I look forward to what we will accomplish in the future.”
Watertown’s Talan Jurgens scattered four hits and collected eight strikeouts in blanking Aberdeen in the first game.
Donnie Soderland had a pair of hits for the Smittys.
Aberdeen overcame an early deficit and led 5-1 after the top of the third inning in the nightcap. After the hosts responded with three runs, the Smittys extended their lead to 8-4 in the top of the fifth only to have Watertown answer with ten unanswered runs to complete the sweep.
Casey Vining homered and Lance Siefken had a two-run double to highlight the third inning. Cooper Eisenbeisz plated one run on a sacrifice fly, and Grant Beyer brought in two more in the fifth for the Smittys.
Kaden Rylance had four hits and knocked in four runs for Watertown, while Marcus Rabine finished with three hits and three RBI.
Beyer and Brendan Livermont each had two hits for the Smittys, who received hits from 10 different players. Beyer, Siefken, and Talan Dutenhoeffer each drove in a pair.
The Smittys will have their official home opener on Friday when they host Fargo, N.D. at Fossum Field.
Aberdeen Smittys 000 000 0 – 0 4 1
Watertown 110 001 x – 3 6 1
Zane Backous and Talan Dutenhoeffer; Talan Jurgens and Kaden Rylance. 2B – Aberdeen Smittys, Cooper Eisenbeisz; Watertown, Treyton Himmerich.
Aberdeen Smittys 023 030 0 – 8 12 0
Watertown 103 055 x – 14 9 1
Phillip Zens, Cooper Eisenbeisz (5), Casey Vining (6) and Talan Dutenhoeffer; Nash Berg, Hayden Ries (5) and Johnathan Lake. 2B – Aberdeen Smittys, L. Siefken, Dutenhoeffer; Watertown, Lake, Kaden Rylance. HR – Aberdeen Smittys, Vining.
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