Post 17 goes 2-1 against Fargo Post 400; area high school softball, baseball teams play

Kaden Rylance's one-hit pitching performance helped Watertown Post 17 split a doubleheader against the Fargo (N.D.) Post 400 Stars on Saturday at Watertown Stadium.

The win also allowed Post 17 to win their season-opening series 2-1. Watertown rallied for an 8-7 win in Friday night's opener. Fargo did the same in winning Saturday's opener 13-10 before Watertown answered with a 5-1 win in the second game that was shortened to five innings because of rain, which also caused the cancellation on Sunday's scheduled finale.

"After a long winter and being locked up inside, it was great for the kids to go out this weekend. They to play another team and get their feet wet for the long season ahead," said Post 17 head coach Ryan Neale.

The two teams went back and forth in the opener before the Fargo erased a 10-9 deficit with four runs in the top of the seventh. The outburst included a bases-loaded hit by pitch from Jake Jaroszewski, run-scoring singles from Colby Hanson and Chayton Senn and a sacrifice fly by Matthew Bryant.

Hanson collected three hits, including a double, to lead a 13-hit attack that also included two-hit performances by Bryant, Senn, Andre Werk and Jack Demers. Werk and Logan Sullivan each clubbed homers. Caleb Christianson earned the win in relief.

Post 17 finished with 11 hits including two doubles and single by Treyton Himmerich. Hayden Ries added two hits and Drew Denzer, Kaden Rylance, Spencer Wientjes, Mason Krause, Peyton Buisker and Dylon Rawdon one each. Chase Christianson took the loss in relief.

Watertown scored three runs in the bottom of the first and used Rylance's pitching to win the second game. He walked four and struck out six in the game.

Jack Heesch, Talan Jurgens and Nathan Briggs each doubled for Post 17. Briggs and Heesch each had two hits and Jurgens plated two runs.

Werk singled for Post 400. Sullivan started and took the loss.

"Coach (Nick) Geffre and I were really impressed with how we swing the bats as a whole this weekend for the first time seeing opposing pitching," said Neale. "We believe this group has a lot of positives to look forward to offensively."

In Friday's opener, Post 17 took a 4-2 lead into the top of the sixth inning before Fargo took the lead with a five-run uprising. Watertown answered with four runs in the bottom of the sixth, getting a run-scoring double from Carter Beynon and a run-scoring single from Heesch before scoring the tying and eventual winning runs on wild pitches.

Fargo put runners on second and third with one out in the top of the seventh before Watertown's Mitch Olson retired the final two batters grounders.

Olson earned the win in relief of starter Jackson Maag. Hanson took the loss in relief for Fargo.

Heesch, who doubled, and Jurgens each had two hits for Post 17. Ryan Roby added a triple and Denzer a single.

Demers went 2-for-2 with a double for Fargo, which also got doubles from Hanson, Senn and Jaroszewski.

"Overall, I thought this was a productive weekend of games, even though the conditions weren't ideal," said Neale. "We were able to learn a lot about the character and identity of this team."

Post 17 is scheduled to meet Fargo Post 400 in another weekend series starting on Friday in Fargo.

High School Baseball

Redfield Area 11, Sioux Valley 1: Seth Siebrechts tossed a four-hitter with nine strikeouts and also doubled and drove in three runs for Redfield Area (5-1). Keaton Rohlfs also doubled for the Muskrats.

The Cossacks (2-1) got doubles from Jack Opitz, Braden Danzeisen and Levi Logan.

Softball

Yankton 15, Aberdeen Central 0: Grace Behrns tossed a four-hitter with seven strikeouts and Yankton used a six-run first inning and an eighth-run fourth to notch the victory on Saturday. Behrns also drove in three runs with two doubles, Mikayla Humpal added two run-scoring doubles, Elle Feser and Brooklyn Townsend each doubled and singled and Emma Eichacher added two singles for the Gazelles (6-3).

Amelia Rife, Rachel Siefken and Kaylee Kiesow each singled for the Golden Eagles (0-5), who host Sioux Falls O'Gorman on Monday. Kiesow took the loss.

Arlington 10-10, Castlewood 9-6: Taya Clausen earned the wins in both games for Arlington. She struck out 10 in a complete-game victory in the opener and also doubled and singled. In the second, she earned the win in relief and drove in three runs with three hits.

Harley Johnson, Ellisyn Vincent and Brenley Goebel each added doubles in the opener for Arlington.

Sophia Kudrna went 4-for-4 with a double, triple and three runs batted in for Castlewood. Natalie Akin, Gracie Haug, Mackenzie Everson, Bridgette Horn and Cydni Kudrna each added two hits. Akin and Haug each doubled.

In the second, Johnson went 4-for-4 with two homers and drove in three runs for Arlington. Goebel smacked two triples and Jo Steffensen and Elizabeth Rowen added doubles.

Lilly Jacobsen doubled and triple and C. Kudrna tripled and singled for Castlewood. Haug also hit a triple.

Arlington is schedule to host Oldham-Ramona-Rutland and Deuel in a triangular on Saturday. Castlewood is slated to host Mobridge-Pollock on Monday.

Dell Rapids 23-13, Arlington 0-2: Dell Rapids swept the Cardinals in a high school softball doubleheader on Friday. In the opener, Jacyee Tebay went 4-for-4 with three homers, four runs scored and five runs batted in for Dell Rapids. Lexi Ingalls and Claire Wynja also homered and Katie Kvigne tossed a three-inning no-hitter with seven strikeouts.

Taya Clausen and Addie Steffensen each pitched for Arlington. Details for the second game were not available.

Winner Area 13-6, Mobridge-Pollock 11-2: Winner Area swept the high school softball doubleheader over the Tigers (2-3) on Friday. No other details were available.

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

This article originally appeared on Watertown Public Opinion: Watertown Post 17 Legion baseball and other baseball, softball highlights