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Smittys run winning streak to 14 in sweep over SF Post 15

Casey Vining, of the Aberdeen Smittys, turns on a pitch to hit a three-run home run during Wednesday’s first game against Sioux Falls Post 15 at Fossum Field. Photo by John Davis taken 6/12/20224

A four-day break did nothing to cool off the red hot Aberdeen Smittys.

The local squad pushed its winning streak to 14 games in a row with a dominant sweep over Sioux Falls Post 15 in American Legion baseball on Wednesday afternoon. Aberdeen swept the twin bill by scores of 15-0 and 16-1, both in four innings.

“These guys are just hot right now. They’re tearing the cover off the ball,” said Smittys coach Nathan Gonnelly. “They’re doing a great job just getting on base and letting our whole lineup do damage, so it was a great day for us.”

Aberdeen has now outscored its opponents 207-38 during its current winning streak.

The Smittys, which had 23 hits on Wednesday, are getting contributions from just about everyone in their lineup.

“Our lineup, top to bottom, can do damage, and all of them can get on base, too,” Gonnelly said. “It’s pretty special when we have a lineup that can go top to bottom and everyone is dangerous, which is pretty special.”

The big stick in the opener came from Casey Vinning against Sioux Falls. Vining had a two-run double in the first inning, a three-run home run in the second, and an RBI double in the fourth.

“Just seeing it well, kind getting something to hit and it’s going,” Vining said, “so I’ll take it.”

It was Vining’s 12th career home run as a member of the Smittys.

Cooper Eisenbeisz added a two-run single in the seven-run second, while Drew Salfrank had a two-run double, and Brendan Livermont and Phillip Zens each drove in runs in the five-run fourth.

Eisenbeisz and Zens each collected two hits in the opener.

Zens was right back at it in the second game with three hits, three RBI and three runs scored.

“We showed it on the scoreboard,” Zens said, “just putting a lot of balls into play, hitting the ball hard, really, that’s all you can ask for today.”

Zens had an RBI double in the first inning, an RBI single in the second, and an RBI triple in the third.

He enjoys being a part of a potent lineup that just keeps producing.

“You score and then all of a sudden you’re right back in the hole or on deck,” Zens said, “so it’s always good when you’re passing the stick around.”

Phillip Zens, far right, celebrates with teammates Charlie Phillips (12) and Cooper Eisenbeisz (8) after Zens drove in the 15th run to end Wednesday’s first game against Sioux Falls Post 15 at Fossum Field. The Smittys won the game by a score of 15-0 in the bottom of the fouth inning. In the background at far left is Casey Vining. Photo by John Davis taken 6/12/2024

The Smittys broke the game open with an eight-run second inning. Joran Foss had two-run double in the frame, and Talan Dutenhoeffer and Donnie Soderlund each drove in runs with singles. Grant Beyer added a two-run single in the fourth.

Lance Siefken and Soderlund each had two hits in the second game, and Foss drove in three.

While Aberdeen continues to rack up hits and runs, those on the team are quick to credit the pitching staff as well.

“We’re taking advantage of putting the ball in play and throwing strikes,” Vining said.

Against Sioux Falls, the trio of Salfrank, Eisenbeisz and Livermont combined to strike out eight batters did not allow a single walk in the doubleheader.

“It helps a lot when our pitchers are throwing strikes,” Zens said. “That makes our job on defense a lot easier, and it makes it a lot more fun to go hit the ball, too.”

Drew Salfrank, of the Aberdeen Smittys (6) throws a pitch during Wednesday’s first game against Sioux Falls Post 15 at Fossum Field. In the background is Smittys’ third baseman Casey Vining. Photo by John Davis taken 6/12/20224

Aberdeen has a deep pitching staff and was able to utilize some of those arms against Sioux Falls.

“That’s just a good opportunity for our pitchers to keep on throwing,” Donnelly said. “Get those guys who haven’t pitched in a while kind of back in the groove, and new guys to pitch as well, like Brendan Livermont came out today and he pitched well for ‘Eisey’ at the back half of the second game. It’s just good for everybody.”

The Smittys will now have a very busy stretch of games ahead, starting out with the Dakota Classic in Sioux Falls where Aberdeen will face Buffalo, Minn., on Friday, Yankton and Post 15 on Saturday, and a team from Omaha, Neb. on Sunday, among other possible foes.

“It’s going to be good to see other teams and what other states bring good competition. Obviously, having that league game with Yankton is a big one for us to go win, especially in the power points,” Vining said. “After that tournament we take on Brookings, Pierre and number one Renner, so those are going to be good games to see and good competition to help us get higher in the seed points.”

The Smittys, 15-3 on the season, are looking forward to facing new teams this weekend. Gonnelly believes his team will be up to the challenge.

“I think one of the biggest differences will be the pitching that we’ll see,” Gonnelly said. “I think they’re going to be throwing a little bit harder, so it might be interesting to see how it goes the first couple of games, but once they get the timing down, we’ll see a lot of what we’ve seen the last couple of weeks.”

Sioux Falls Post 15 000 0 – 0 2 4

Aberdeen Smittys 370 5x – 15 11 2

Tommy Boyum, Hayden Risty (2), Cayden Hvam (4) and Tyler Pankonin; Drew Salfrank and Talan Dutenhoeffer. 2B – Aberdeen Smittys, Casey Vining 2, Drew Salfrank. HR – Aberdeen Smittys, Vining.

Sioux Falls Post 15 010 0 – 1 4 2

Aberdeen Smittys 382 3 – 16 12 0

Hunter Edberg, Sam Wicks (3), Charlie Kinches (4) and Bryson Metz, Landon Duran (3); Cooper Eisenbeisz, Brendan Livermont (4) and Zane Backous. 2B – Aberdeen Smittys, Joran Foss, Phillip Zens, Backous. 3B – Aberdeen Smittys, Zens.

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