Lake Norden and Castlewood Ravens and Monarchs each notch EDL amateur baseball victories

ABERDEEN — Drew Salfrank's run-scoring single with top outs in the bottom of the eighth inning of the second game wrapped up a doubleheader sweep for the Aberdeen Smittys in American Legion Baseball on Sunday.

The Smittys (10-5) made the most of only five hits and rolled to an 18-3 five-inning win in the opener and took a 9-6 lead into the seventh inning in the second game. Pierre rallied to force extra innings with three runs in the seventh and Salfrank's single in the eighth lifted Aberdeen to the 10-9 win.

Casey Vining drove in four runs, Zane Backous three and Ethan Kjenstad two for Aberdeen. Jaiden Smith allowed only one earned run in the five-inning win.

George Stalley had a triple and a single for Pierre.

Salfrank produced three hits and three RBIs and also earned the win in relief for the Smittys in the second game. Phillip Zens homered and drove in two runs and Backous tripled and plated two runs.

Johnny Lyons led Pierre by plating three runs with two doubles and a single.

Aberdeen plays Rapid City Post 22 and Brookings on Wednesday at Brookings.

Milbank Tourney

ABERDEEN — Groton took the lead with a three-run first inning and held on for a 5-4 win over Redfield on Sunday.

Cole Simon had three hits for Groton Area, which hosts Warner-Ipswich-Northwestern on Tuesday. Keaton Rohlfs had two hits and two runs batted in and Nolan Gall doubled for Redfield, which hosts Faulkton on Tuesday.

In other games involving area teams, Volga blanked Milbank 14-0 and Claremont downed Hamlin 13-5.

Volga (2-1) used a 12-run fourth inning to top Milbank. Conner Gross drove in four runs with two hit and also went the distance on the mound in the four-inning win. Kyler Bezdichek doubled and singled and Caleb Murphy had two hits for Volga. Merik Junker took the loss for Milbank (1-2).

Grant Cutler drove in two runs with two hits and Will Cutler doubled, plated three runs and also fanned 11 batters on the mound to lead Claremont. Watson Grantham and Carter Jutting each had two hits and Kelby Hauck doubled for Hamlin (0-4).

Amateur Baseball

Lake Norden 10, Elkton 0

At Lake Norden, Kade Russell and Jackson Noem combined on a three-hitter for the Lakers in the Eastern Dakota League game. Russell allowed two hits and struck out 12 in six innings.

Kale Stevenson had two hits and Mitchell Noem doubled for Lake Norden (2-3 overall and 2-1 in the EDL), which also got singles from Jackson Noem, Cameron Thue, Jordon Johnson and Kevin Krumm.

Aiden Erickson collected two hits for Elkton.

Castlewood Monarchs 4, Ramona Express 1

Chris Lather fired a two-hitter in the Monarchs' Eastern Dakota League win on Sunday in Castlewood.

Matt and Jacob Steffensen each doubled for Castlewood (1-2 overall and in the EDL). M. Steffensen, Blayne Schliesman and Luke Steffensen finished two each apiece.

Ryan Schlisner and Brent Bickett each singled for Ramona (0-3 and 0-3).

The Monarchs visit Milbank at 8 p.m. on Thursday.

Castlewood Ravens 16, Volga 1

In another game at Castlewood, Gus Stieger and Nate Phinney powered the Ravens to the Eastern Dakota League win. Stieger drove in three runs with a homer, double and single. Phinney also had three hits, slugging two homers and driving in three. Jaydon Cordell drove in four runs with two doubles and a single and Zach Hirsch added a double.

Tucker Wookey allowed only three hits over four innings in the five-inning win for the Ravens, 3-0 overall and in the EDL. Castlewood hosts Lake Norden at 8 p.m. on Wednesday.

Zach Puetz had two hits for the Cormorants.

Follow Watertown Public Opinion sports reporter Roger Merriam on Twitter @PO_Sports.

This article originally appeared on Watertown Public Opinion: Roundup of area American Legion and amateur baseball games on Sunday