By Jon Akre

605 Sports

BRANDON — It didn’t take long for the Angels to take control in the opening round of the 93rd state amateur baseball tournament.

The Sunshine League district champions continued their winning ways in dominant fashion, blowing out Eastern Dakota League foe Lake Norden, 15-0, in five innings at First National Bank Field at Aspen Park.

“It’s just that time of year,” said Alexandria first baseman Jordan Gau. “We kind of talked about it before, it’s our time to put our best games together and just worry about ourselves. Take care of our business and just let the chips fall where they may.”

The Angels kicked off the scoring right away in the first with a six-run inning on six hits and two walks, highlighted by a two-RBI double off the bat of Jordan Gau. All six runs came against Lake Norden pitching ace Jordon Johnson.

PHOTOS: The @AlexAngelsBB defeat the Lake Norden Lakers 15-5 in five innings Wednesday in the final game of the 93rd annual @SDAmateur Baseball Tournament in Brandon. (Photos by Rodney Haas / 605 Sports) - https://t.co/G3YFWPKXDU

— 605 Sports (@605_sports) August 7, 2025

:

“We told our guys to just come out swinging because we knew he’s going to be around the plate and that’s what we did,” said Alex manager Peyton Smith

The Angels were able to force Johnson off the mound, recording just two outs in his start, allowing six runs on six hits and two walks.

“We’ve seen what he’s done in the past, he’s a good competitive pitcher,” said Jordan Gau. “It’s just the last few games we’ve been putting good swings on and it’s just having that mindset. Don’t change much and just keep doing what we’re doing.”

In the second, three hit batters loaded the bases for the Halos, with two more runs coming across the plate on an error and a Jacob Giles RBI walk. Cole Wenande started a four-run third inning with a solo homer, with another run scoring on a passed ball three batters later. Peyton Smith launched a two-RBI double to push the Halo lead to 12, keeping the pressure on the Lakers.

““You never know what can happen in the state tournament,” said Smith. “We’ve been playing pretty well as of late, but you never know what can happen come state tournament time. I thought we carried on what we did last week and came ready to play and that’s what we need to do from here on out.”

The fourth inning saw much of the same with Jerrod Zens scoring on an error, Wenande plating on a sac-fly, and Michael Schoettmer recording an RBI-single to make it 15-0. Alexandria starting pitcher Alex Ferrin capped off the shutout victory with a ground out in the top of the fifth inning.

“If you can get out of the game in five innings, that saves pitching, it saves on legs a little bit. Especially on this turf,” Smith said.

Ferrin tossed all five innings for the Halos in the win, allowing one hit and two walks in five shutout innings, striking out six in an impressive rookie season with the Angels.

“He’s been unbelievable for us all year long,” Smith said of Ferrin. “He’s an awesome kid and he’s been our ace all year long and he showed it tonight.”

Jordan Gau finished the night with two RBIs on a double and a walk, Bradley Dean (Mount Vernon pick-up player), Schoettmer, Peyton Smith and Giles each had two RBIs on one hit while Tyson Gau and Wenande both tallied RBIs on one hit, including a solo homer from Wenande. 

During the opening round of the 2025 South Dakota State Amateur Baseball Tournament Wednesday, August 6, 2025 in Brandon. (Rodney Haas / 605 Sports)

Pierce Smith had two hits and an RBI while Zens added two hits and a walk in the win.

The Angels trounced the Lakers without two key players in the lineup: Landon Ruesink and Jackson Jarding, who will be unavailable for the tournament with Dakota Wesleyan football. Based on how the opening round win went, Alex will be just fine without the young pieces.

“It helps having a lot of vets,” said Gau. “A lot of guys that have been around quite a bit and have done this a time or two. It’s just the next guy up and we’ve got confidence in our guys on the bench.”

The Angels also come into the 2025 state tournament with a chip on their shoulder after a 3-2, extra-inning loss to Platte in last season's second round. It’s a long tournament, but Peyton Smith hopes the Angels can keep the competitive energy throughout the tournament.

“That’s how we always want to play, with a chip on our shoulder,” Peyton Smith said. “I think if we keep doing the things that we have been doing I think we’ll be just fine but we just have to come ready to play every single night.”

The Angels will take on Sunshine League rival Parkston Mudcats Sunday, Aug. 10 at 5:30 p.m. at First National Bank Field at Aspen Park in Brandon.

“It’s going to be a battle,” said Jordan Gau. “Those guys showed tonight when they get everyone to show up, they’ve got a competitive group they can throw out there and it’s going to be a battle. It’ll be a fun battle.”