BROOKINGS – The ‘Chutes dropped a Junior American Legion doubleheader to Watertown on Friday at Bob Shelden Field.
Brookings fell 10-7 in Game 1 before Post 17 used three big innings to end the nightcap early, 18-1.
The ‘Chutes travel to Sioux Falls on Wednesday to face Post 15 in a doubleheader that starts at 5 p.m. at Harmodon.
• Watertown 10, Brookings 7
Post 17 took advantage of eight Brookings errors to plate nine unearned runs for the Game 1 win.
Watertown led 6-0 through 2 1/2 before the ‘Chutes scored four in the bottom of the third.
Brock Luze walked, stole second and advanced to third on a groundout. Trevor Berreth plated Luze with a single and moved to second on Parker Ryhkus’ two-out base hit. Both scored on Daniel Messerli’s double and Tanner Shepardson followed with another double to plate Messerli as Shepardson scored to get Brookings within 6-4.
Berreth led off the fifth with a single and moved to second when Caden McKeown took one for the team. With two outs, Messerli earned his second RBI with a single that plated Berreth as the ‘Chutes narrowed the gap to 6-5.
Post 17 scored two runs in both the sixth and seventh to take a 10-5 lead.
In the bottom of the seventh, Messerli and Shepardson hit back-to-back singles to start the rally. Both moved up on Theo Burns’ groundout before Messerli scored on Rhett Zelinsky’s groundout. Shepardson ended up scoring on a Watertown error for the final score, 10-7.
Berreth suffered the loss as he gave up 10 runs – one earned – on nine hits and a walk with one strikeout. McKeown got the last three outs, giving up one hit and a walk.
WATERTOWN 10, BROOKINGS 7
Watertown 240 002 2 – 10 9 3
Brookings 004 010 2 – 7 12 8
Brandon Florey, Parker Schmidt (7) and Sully Mack; Trevor Berreth, Caden McKeown (7) and Rhett Zelinsky. W – Florey. L – Berreth. 2B: W, Parker Schmidt; B, Caden McKeown, Daniel Messerli, Tanner Shepardson.
• Watertown 18, Brookings 1
Post 17 scored four times in the second; tacked on nine in the third and added five in the fifth to end the game early via the run rule.
The ‘Chutes took advantage of two hit batters and two walks to score their lone run in the second.
Burns and Brock Luze took one for the team; Kohji Numata walked; and Berreth picked up the RBI by drawing a bases-loaded walk.
Luze suffered the loss after giving up 10 runs – eight earned – on six hits and five walks with one strikeout in 2 1/3 innings.
Matt Girard allowed three runs on three hits and three walks with a strikeout over 1 2/3 frames.
McKeown again closed and gave up five runs – one earned – on three hits and two walks with one strikeout.
WATERTOWN 18, BROOKINGS 1
Watertown 049 05 – 18 12 2
Brookings 010 00 – 1 2 3
Tucker Bayles and Sully Mack; Brock Luze, Matt Girard (3), Caden McKeown (5) and Rhett Zelinsky. W – Bayles. L – Luze. 3B: W, Adam DeJong.
