Watertown Post 17 tops Sioux Falls East for first state-tourney win since 2016

BROOKINGS — A fast start sparked the Watertown Post 17 American Legion Baseball team to its first state-tournament victory since 2016 on Tuesday.

Post 17 (45-23) plated three runs in the top of the first inning and rode the pitching of Kaden Rylance and Nathan Briggs to a 4-2 victory over Sioux Falls East (36-14) in the opening game of the five-day, double-elimination tournament at Bob Sheldon Field.

"This is a great win for our guys and the Watertown Baseball community to get that first state tournament win in eight years," Watertown Post 17 head coach Ryan Neale sad. "I am extremely happy for our kids. This just shows through all the ups and downs that our process has worked and we have a good thing going right now."

Watertown's fast start began with a two-strike single by leadoff hitter Hayden Ries. Mitch Olson followed with a walk. After a wild pitch, Nathan Briggs plated Ries with the game's first run. Nash Berg followed with a walk and Post 17 added to its lead with a run-scoring single by Markus Pitkin and a sacrifice fly by Treyton Himmerich.

"What seamed like a meaningless single by Hayden with two strikes to start the game might have been the biggest play of the game. That hit got the boys going and set the table what turned out to be a key inning for the rest of the game," Neale said. "We had great at bats that inning."

That was more than enough for Rylance, the South Dakota State University recruit, who allowed only two runs and seven hits to go with six strikeouts in six innings. Briggs pitched the final inning for the save.

Sioux Falls East scored both of its runs in the bottom of the fourth on a sacrifice fly by Brycen Mitchell and a bases-loaded, hit-by-pitch by Dylan Rippentrop. Sawyer Mindt went 4-for-4 to lead East's offensive attack.

Watertown added a big insurance run in the top of the seventh when Dylon Rawdon doubled. He tried to advance to third on a flyball to left and scored when the cutoff throw went into the dugout.

East put two runners on against Briggs in the bottom of the seventh before the game ended on a fly out.

"I really believe that helped Kado breath easy in the bottom of the first knowing his teammates just put a 3-spot on the board. When you give a guy like Kado a three-run lead in the top of the first inning that just gives this whole team confidence and slows down the game for our guys," Neale added.

"We have always said you're as good as your starting pitcher that day. Kado was great, but our top of the first inning might have been a little better."

Post 17 will face defending champion Harrisburg Gold (37-7-1) at 4 p.m. on Wednesday.

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In Tuesday's other games:

Renner 7, Brandon Valley 6 (10 innings)

Sullivan Schlimgen drew a two-out walk, stole second and scored on Zachary Dunham's single in the bottom of the 10th that capped the big comeback win for Renner (28-12).

Yankton (27-16-1) scored five runs in the bottom of the first inning and led 6-0 after two innings. Renner scored to runs in the top of the fourth and tied the game with four runs in the sixth inning of the scheduled seven-inning game.

Schlimgen, who drove in two runs, and Kyle Konechne, who doubled, each collected two hits for Renner.

Lucas Kampshoff and Samuel Gokie had two hits apiece for Yankton.

Harrisburg 2, Brandon Valley 0

Defending champion Harrisburg Gold (37-7-1) won its opener behind starter Eli Kokenge, who tossed 6 1/3 innings shutout innings. He allowed four hits and struck out seven.

Harrisburg scored in the bottom of the third on a run-scoring single by Jack Riley and added another run in the bottom of the sixth on a single by Teigan Munce.

Noah Boschee had two hits for Harrisburg.

Brandon Valley (20-20) got two hits from Jackson Adams. Carter LaBrie went the distance on the mound in the loss.

Brookings 5, Rapid City Post 22 2

Host Brookings knocked off the perennial power Post 22, snapping a 2-2 tie on David Brink's two-run single in the top of the fifth inning.

Seven players had two hits for Brookings (24-20) including Zach Struck and Nolan Miles, who each doubled and singles.

Aaron Roach had two hits for Post 22 (53-16).

Wednesday's Schedule

The double-elimination tourney continues through Saturday. In elimination games on Wednesday, Sioux Falls East meets Brandon Valley at 10 a.m. followed by Yankton vs. Rapid City Post 22.

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Renner and Brookings are slated to meet in the final game of the day at about 7 p.m.

Follow Watertown Public Opinion sports reporter Roger Merriam on X (formerly known as Twitter) @PO_Sports or email: rmerriam@thepublicopinion.com

This article originally appeared on Watertown Public Opinion: Opening-day highlights from state Class A Legion baseball tournament