BROOKINGS – Watertown dropped the 'Chutes 5-2 and Renner defeated Mitchell 13-7 in the first round of the Region 3A Junior Legion Baseball Tournament on a warm Friday afternoon at Bob Shelden Field.
Post 307 and Post 17 face off today at noon in a winner’s bracket game.
Brookings takes on Mitchell 30 minutes following the conclusion of that matchup.
The Renner/Watertown loser faces the Brookings/Mitchell winner at 6 p.m.
The championship is Sunday at noon.
• Watertown 5, Brookings 2
Hunter Lee tossed a four-hitter to lead Post 17.
He allowed two runs – none earned – with three strikeouts and a pair of walks.
Watertown’s Conner Hanson singled with one out in the first. Braedon Zaug doubled. Both players finished 2-for-4.
After Kade Russell walked, Zach Hirsch hit into a fielder’s choice to drive in Hanson.
In the second, Cole Holden and Mason Lloyd singled and Ben Althoff walked to load the bases. Zaug had an RBI single to make it 2-0.
Brookings got on the board in the third as Trey Svennes walked, moved to second on a passed ball and scored on Max Struck’s one-out single.
Watertown countered with one run in the fifth and two in the sixth.
In the fifth, Hudson Block was hit by a pitch. Holden hit into a fielder’s choice, but an error on the play put runners at the corners. Lloyd was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Althoff’s sacrifice fly scored Block.
Hirsch started a two-out rally in the sixth with a walk and Block singled.
Hirsch scored on an error as Thury stole second. Thury moved to third on the same error and then scored on a wild pitch to make it 5-1.
Kyle Bauer walked with one away in the seventh. Wes Koenig reached on an error.
Svennes’ RBI single provided for the final margin.
Watertown’s Cael Sutton doubled.
Jamison Honkomp went 2-for-3 for Brookings
Jake Ammann took the loss after giving up three runs on eight hits and three walks with one strikeout in five innings.
WATERTOWN 5, BROOKINGS 2
Brookings 001 000 1 – 2 4 2
Watertown 110 012 x – 5 9 2
Jake Ammann, Trey Svennes (6) and Wes Koenig; Hunter Lee and Ben Althoff. W – Lee. L – Ammann. 2B: W, Braedon Zaug, Cael Sutton.
• Renner 13, Mitchell 7
The Kings used a seven-run third frame to overcome an early 5-0 deficit.
Zach Ridl (two doubles) and Andrew Barr (one double) both went 2-for-4 with a pair of RBIs. Aspen Dahl and Austin Henry added two RBIs apiece.
Austin Henry threw three scoreless innings in relief to earn the win. He allowed one hit and struck out six batters.
RENNER 13, MITCHELL 7
Mitchell 510 010 0 – 7 7 3
Renner 207 103 x – 13 10 1
