Milbank, Redfield and Castlewood also notch American Legion Baseball victories
Treyton Himmerich's walk-off single in the bottom of the eighth inning of the opener sparked Watertown Post 17 to a sweep over Groton Post 39 in an American Legion Baseball doubleheader on Tuesday at Watertown Stadium.
Himmerich lifted Post 17 to a 6-5 win in Game 1. Watertown (10-9) completed the sweep with a 10-0 three-inning win in the second game.
"Tonight was a good night to get back onto the field and get a couple of wins after the long graduation weekend," said Post 17 head coach Ryan Neale. "We were able to play a lot of different guys and get out feet back underneath us."
The two teams went back and forth in the opener. Groton scored single runs in the top of the third and fourth innings, two in the fifth and another run in the six. Watertown matched Groton in the bottom half of the inning each time, tying the game in the sixth on a single by Mason Krause.
Himmerich finished with three hits and three RBIs for Post 17, which also got two hits each from Spencer Wientjes and Krause. Wientjes hit a double.
Ryan Roby, the third Watertown pitcher, got the win.
"Wins are wins, no matter how they come. Our guys did a great job of battling in Game 1 before walking it off in the eighth," said Neale.
Bradin Althoff smacked two doubles for Groton (1-2), which also got two hits from Brevin Fliehs, Cade Larson and Dillon Abeln. Cole Simon took the loss in relief of Ryan Groeblinghoff.
Post 17 didn't wait around in the nightcap, plating seven runs in the bottom of the first and cruising to the victory.
Carson Mutschler smacked a three-run homer and Peyton Buisker and Dylon Rawdon each doubled for Post 17. Kaden Rylance closed out the victory with a two-run single. Engstrom fired a one-hitter in the victory.
"The story of Game 2 was our offensive coming alive," said Neale. "We are not going to hit a lot of home runs on the season so when we do, like Carson did in the first inning, we hope it's going to provide a spark to this team and it certainly did."
Tate Larson had the lone hit for Groton. Logan Ringgenberg suffered the loss.
After visiting Sioux Falls East on Wednesday, Watertown hosts Harrisburg #2 at 5 p.m. on Thursday. Groton hosts Lake Norden-Badger on Friday.
Milbank 9, Webster 1
MILBANK — Merik Junker and Justus Osborn combined on a one-hitter to lead Milbank Post 9 past Webster Post 40 in American Legion Baseball on Tuesday.
Junker went three innings and Osborn the final four.
Owen Tesch tripled and drove in three runs and Osborn doubled and plated two runs to lead Milbank's offense. Tanner Hallquist added a triple and Dillen Scheeley a double.
Jared Schimmel's double proved to be the lone hit for Webster. Matthew Mount took the loss.
Webster is slated to visit Groton on Thursday. Milbank hosts a tournament on Saturday and Sunday.
Redfield 16-8, Castlewood 1-18
REDFIELD — Redfield Post 92 and Castlewood Post 250 split an American Legion Baseball doubleheader on Tuesday.
Redfield scored six runs in the bottom of the first in the opener, added two more in the second, three in the third and five in the fourth of the four-inning game.
Peyton Osborn went 3-for-3 with three runs batted in and also tossed three scoreless innings with eight strikeouts on the mound to notch the win. Erik Salmen tripled as part of a 3-for-3 performance with three RBIs. Elliot Komraus also drove in three runs with a double and a single. Kevin Weller and Owen Osborn each added doubles.
Hunter Smith had two of Castlewood's six hits. Kegan Tvedt took the loss.
Jeremiah Wiersma went 3-for-3 with four runs scored and Smith 2-for-3 with two RBIs to lead Castlewood in the second game. Larz Tvedt added a triple and Lane Tvedt and Booker Schooley each doubled.Jarin Eidson, Brody Bass, Xander Sheehan and Schooley each drove in two runs apiece.
Redfield plays in the Milbank tourney on Saturday and Sunday.
Follow Watertown Public Opinion sports reporter Roger Merriam on Twitter @PO_Sports.
This article originally appeared on Watertown Public Opinion: Watertown Post 17 sweeps twinbill against Groton Post 39
