Watertown, Aberdeen drop first sanctioned high school softball games
SIOUX CENTER, Iowa — It's kind of ironic that the first game that Watertown High School's softball team played as a sanctioned sport in South Dakota actually took place in Iowa.After playing nearly 25 years of club softball, the Arrows opened the first sanctioned high school season with a 4-2 loss in a game played in the American State Bank Sports Complex on the campus of Dordt University in Sioux Center.
Sioux Center is roughly 165 miles from Watertown, but despite warm weather the past few days the fields in northeastern South Dakota aren't quite ready for play.
"For the first outing, we did a lot of great things," said Watertown head coach Kelli Brinka. "We are looking forward to improving and continuing to grow."
A fast start didn't hurt Brookings with plated three runs in the bottom of the first inning. The outburst was highlighted by a two-run triple by Bobcat pitcher Gracie Adamson, who also earned the win on the mound by allowing only four hits and striking out 14 batters in six innings.
Watertown added solo runs in the fifth and sixth innings. Brookings added an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth and held on for the seven-inning win.
Adams, Kymber Buys, Morgan Linstad, Tess Burns and Tessa Twedt each produced two of Brookings' 11 hits. Burns homered, Linstad also tripled and Buys and Morgan Nygaard each clubbed doubles.
The Arrows' offense included a double by Lily Pressler and singles by Avery Palmquist, Jade Lund, Neely Johnson and Jaida Young. Palmquist and Johnson each drove in runs.
"We were really lacking in hitting until the fourth inning when we had some nice hits and a couple of opportunies to score but just couldn't pull it out," said Brinka.
Jada Brown went the distance on the mound in the loss for Watertown.
In Tuesday's junior varsity game, Watertown won 7-6 with two hits apiece from Alayna Dettman, Aleia Johnston and Emmy Berglund. Lauryn Hirsch went the distance for the win.
Watertown's scheduled home game on Thursday against Mitchell has been moved to Mitchell, starting with the varsity game at 4 p.m.
The Arrows are scheduled to host Sioux Falls Washington on Tuesday, but field conditions could force that game to also get moved.
Mitchell 11, Aberdeen Central 0
Aberdeen Central didn't field a club softball team all these years and played its first-ever game on Thursday, falling 11-0 at Mitchell.
Rylee Jennings fanned 13 of the 15 batters and fired a no-hitter in the five-inning game for Mitchell.
Delaney Degen went 3-for-3 with three runs scored and three RBIs for the Kernels.
Kaylee Kiesow started and took the loss for Aberdeen Central. She recorded seven strikeouts.
Follow Watertown Public Opinion sports reporter Roger Merriam on Twitter @PO_Sports.
This article originally appeared on Watertown Public Opinion: Watertown and Aberdeen teams play first sanctioned softball games.
