The Aberdeen Smittys scored 17 runs in the first two innings to cruise past Huron 21-1 on senior night in an American Legion baseball game at Fossum Field on Thursday.

Trailing 1-0 after the top half of the first inning, the Smittys onslaught began in the bottom of the first with back-to-back home runs. Jaiden Smith smacked a three-run shot before Casey Vining hit a solo home run on the following at bat, giving the Smittys a 4-1 lead. Later in the inning, Brendan Livermont drilled a two-run homer to extend the margin to 6-1.

Smittys coach Brandon Kusler was pleased with his team’s offensive production to begin the contest.

“That was huge for us just to be on the gas pedal from the start,” Kusler said. “Anytime you can put the ball out of the yard that many times, that’s obviously a good thing and the wind blowing out definitely helped a little bit.

Casey Vining, one of eight seniors celebrating senior night, said the team was having fun once the home run display began.

“Smith kind of set the tone,” Vining said. “I just waited for that pitch to come right to the plate and there it (was). So, I was like you know what, I’m going to swing. Two batters later, here comes Livermont, and another one, so we were having some fun there and just kept things rolling.”

Livermont said he went with a different method at the plate to get his home run.

“I usually don’t swing at those high pitches, but today I did, and it went out, so maybe I’ll start doing that,” Livermont said.

The Smittys were just getting started. In the second inning, Aberdeen exploded for 11 runs. Cooper Eisenbeisz got the scoring started on a bases-loaded RBI single, scoring Zane Backous. Smith scored on a bases-loaded walk before Vining and Eisenbeisz each crossed the plate on a two-run single by Ethan Kjenstad.

Kjenstad then scored on a wild pitch and Andrew Woehl scored on a bases-loaded walk. That was before the big blow of the inning as Smith cranked a grand slam, extending the lead to 16-1. Vining capped off the inning, scoring on a wild pitch.

Kusler said it was good to see his team did not relax after jumping out to an early lead.

“That’s huge when you can build that lead like that in the first inning, but then you don’t stop after that,” Kusler said. “At times teams will get out to an early lead and just try to coast from there on out. This team is really good about just staying on the gas pedal and putting teams away.”

Livermont was surprised to see the team score 11 runs in the second inning.

“It’s crazy, you know,” Livermont said. “There’s not many games where you can score 11 runs in one inning. I don’t know the last time (we) did that, so it’s a good feeling when the team is on a roll like that.”

Vining said it was enjoyable to see the scoring barrage.

“It was pretty fun,” Vining said. “Not often we get to score 11 runs in one game.”

Drew Salfrank scored on a single by Backous in the third inning, before producing an RBI triple in the fifth. Salfrank later scored on a Huron error. Vining drove in Aidan Hoffman to plate the game’s final run.

Backous led the Smittys on the mound, allowing one run on two hits and striking out five and walking three in three innings. Jackson Welke pitched three innings in relief, allowing no runs on two hits, while striking out five batters.

“Zane gave us a great start. We didn’t want to go overly long with him, especially after building that early lead like we did,” Kusler said. “But he was sharp. He was pounding the zone, attacking their hitters, and then Jackson Welke in relief, he did a good job as well.”

The Smittys finished with 17 hits. Smith led the way with four hits and knocked in seven runs. Vining and Salfrank followed with three hits, and Backous and Eisenbeisz each had two. Livermont had three RBI, while Backous, Vining, and Kjenstad each had two.

While there was plenty of excitement on the field, the highlight of the night was sending the seniors off with a win.

“It feels good because it’s obviously one of our last home games,” Livermont said. “The season’s coming to an end and we want to make it to that state tournament. All these wins matter and all these wins count.”

Vining reflected on the past, while also looking forward to the future when it came to the senior class.

“It’s fun. We’ve been playing with these guys for a while, 10-15 years, and just a few more home games and we’ll see what the state tournament brings,” Vining said. “Hopefully we can get there, and then a few more of us can come back next year, so it’s going to be fun.”

Included in the senior night festivities was the presentation of the Bryce Anglin Scholarship, which was presented to fellow senior Phillip Zens after the conclusion of the game.

Kusler noted the senior class has a special meaning to him.

“They mean everything to me. I’ve coached that same group of guys the last five years,” Kusler said. “Just growing up with them a little bit and I’ve grown up, they’ve grown up. It’s been very, very rewarding to see the way that they’ve grown and developed, not only as baseball players, but as men as well.”

Kusler also noted their importance on the team.

“They just mean everything to this team, as well,” Kusler said. “They’re great guys in the dugout, they’re great guys on the field, they’re obviously very talented baseball players. So, when you combine all those things, you make for a very special group, and that’s what they are.”

Although the thrill of the win is sweet, there is still work to be done. The Smittys host Harrisburg on Sunday in the regular season finale doubleheader, and Kusler knows there are still improvements that can be made.”

“Just trying to stay more consistent,” Kusler said. “Throwing strikes a little more consistently, playing a little more consistent defense that I know we’re capable of playing. This is the time of year that we’ve got to be playing our best baseball, and I think we are right now. I think we’re in a good spot. I’m excited to see where this group ends up.”

Huron 100 000 – 1 4 1

Aberdeen Smittys 6(11)1 03x – 21 17 0

Jack Peterson, Kolby Hofer (2), Tommie Martin (3) and Tanner Gilbert; Zane Backous, Jackson Welke (4) and Andrew Woehl. 2B – Huron, Layne Wenzel; Aberdeen Smittys, Casey Vining. 3B – Aberdeen Smittys, Drew Salfrank. HR – Aberdeen Smittys, Jaiden Smith 2, Brendan Livermont, Vining.