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Redfield wins Region 6B; Castlewood (1B) and Lake Norden-Badger (5B) reach title games

roger merriam, watertown public opinion
·3 min read

The Aberdeen Smittys struck first in a best-of-three American Legion Baseball playoff series on Thursday night at Watertown Stadium.

The Smittys (26-16) combined 16 hits with a strong pitching performance by Zane Backous on the way to a 15-4 win over Watertown Post 17 (32-31).

The series concludes Friday with one or two games starting at 2 p.m. The winner qualifies for the state Class A tournament July 25-29 at Yankton.

The Smittys scored four runs in the top of the second inning, added three in the fifth, five in the sixth and three more in the seventh. Backous took a shutout into the bottom of the fifth and finished one out short of a complete game in the seven-inning battle.

Aberdeen Smittys leftfielder Cooper Eisenbeisz makes a diving catch in front of teammate Phillip Zens during Game 1 of a best-of-three American Legion Baseball regional playoff series against Watertown Post 17 on Thursday, July 20, 2023 at Watertown Stadium. Aberdeen won 15-4.
Aberdeen Smittys leftfielder Cooper Eisenbeisz makes a diving catch in front of teammate Phillip Zens during Game 1 of a best-of-three American Legion Baseball regional playoff series against Watertown Post 17 on Thursday, July 20, 2023 at Watertown Stadium. Aberdeen won 15-4.

Casey Vining had three hits, including a three-run homer, and drove in four runs for Aberdeen. Drew Salfrank had four hits, Phillip Zens three and Jaiden Smith and Cooper Eisenbeisz two each. Smith had three runs batted in.

Watertown, which committed four errors that led to five unearned runs, tallied 10 hits. Drew Denzer, Jack Heesch, Carson Mutschler and Nathan Briggs had two each. One of Denzer's hits was a double.

Kaden Rylance had nine strikeouts in five innings but took the loss for Post 17.

Region 6B

NORTHVILLE — Redfield captured the championship in the tourney with a 14-0 win over the Clark-Willow Lake Senators on Thursday.

Redfield (20-8) is the host team for the State B tournament July 28-Aug. 1. Clark-Willow Lake also qualified for state.

Three pitchers combined on a two-hitter and Redfield took control with an 11-run first inning. Peyton Osborn had two hits and joined Erik Salmen and Eli Morrissette with two hits apiece.

Cooper Pommer and Josh Kannegieter each singled for the Senators (9-10).

Clark-Willow Lake advanced to the finals with a 2-1 win over Warner-Ipswich-Northwestern (7-6) on Thursday. The Senators trailed 1-0 before scoring twice in the fifth on an error and a single by Lucas Kannegieter.

Trey Huber finished with two hits and also went 6 2/3 innings for the win on the mound. Jack Bratland got the final out for the save.

Quinton Fischbach had two hits and losing pitcher Devon Fischbach added a double for W-I-N.

With a group of teammates waiting (from left, Jaiden Smith, Phillip Zens, Zane Backous and Andrew Woehl), Casey Vining of the Aberdeen Smittys steps on home plate after hitting a three-run homer during Game 1 of their best-of-three American Legion Baseball regional playoff series against Watertown Post 17 on Thursday, July 20, 2023 at Watertown Stadium. Aberdeen won 15-4.

Region 1B

ORTONVILLE, Minn. — Castlewood clinched a berth in the tourney championship with a 3-2 win over Big Stone City on Thursday night.

Earlier in the day, Webster topped Milbank 9-7 in an elimination game. No score was available from the Sisseton-Claremont elimination games.

Castlewood (10-8) trailed 2-1 before scoring twice in the top of the sixth on a sacrifice fly by Xander Sheehan and a run-scoring single by Jyler Tharaldsen. Kegan Tvedt had two hits and also went the distance on a four-hitter for the win. Quincy Thu added a double. Lane Tvedt, Jeremiah Wiersma and Booker Schooley also added singles.

Carter Brown, Josh Mueller, Carter Lee and Carter Danielson each singled for Big Stone. Lee's hit plated two runs in the bottom of the fourth. Mueller also went the distance on mound in the loss.

Jared Schimmel went 3-for-3 and Ian Lesnar and Christopher Gaikowski each had two hits for Webster.

Merik Junker drove in three runs with a double and a single and Tanner Hallquist smacked two doubles for Milbank (13-12).

Aberdeen Smittys base runner Ethan Kjenstad runs to first while Watertown Post 17 catcher Carson Mutschler (left) and pitcher Kaden Rylance chase after a grounder during Game 1 of their best-of-three American Legion Baseball regional playoff series on Thursday, July 20, 2023 at Watertown Stadium. Aberdeen won 15-4.
Aberdeen Smittys base runner Ethan Kjenstad runs to first while Watertown Post 17 catcher Carson Mutschler (left) and pitcher Kaden Rylance chase after a grounder during Game 1 of their best-of-three American Legion Baseball regional playoff series on Thursday, July 20, 2023 at Watertown Stadium. Aberdeen won 15-4.

Region 2B

VOLGA — Dell Rapids (25-2) punched its ticket to state by handling Volga 11-0 in the championship game on Thursday.

Treyse Eastman drove in four runs with two hits and also allowed only one hit over 4 2/3 innings for the victory. Aiden Boechler added a double.

Levi Loban's single was the lone hit for Volga (6-11).

NOTE: Results from the two games in Region 5B on Thursday will run with weekend games.

Watertown Post 17 shortstop Jack Heesch chases after Aberdeen Smittys base runner Zane Backous during Game 1 of their best-of-three American Legion Baseball regional playoff series on Thursday, July 20, 2023 at Watertown Stadium. Aberdeen won 15-4.
Watertown Post 17 shortstop Jack Heesch chases after Aberdeen Smittys base runner Zane Backous during Game 1 of their best-of-three American Legion Baseball regional playoff series on Thursday, July 20, 2023 at Watertown Stadium. Aberdeen won 15-4.

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

This article originally appeared on Watertown Public Opinion: Aberdeen Smittys strike first in Legion playoff series against Watertown Post 17