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Caden Watson’s complete-game shutout lifts Lincoln past Roosevelt at Class A baseball tourney
Sioux Falls Lincoln starting pitcher Caden Watson delivers a pitch during the fifth inning of the Patriots win over Sioux Falls Roosevelt Friday at the Class A high school baseball tournament at the Birdcage in Sioux Falls.
(Rodney Haas / 605 Sports)

Caden Watson’s complete-game shutout lifts Lincoln past Roosevelt at Class A baseball tourney

May 24, 2024
  

By Jon Akre

605 Sports

SIOUX FALLS — Caden Watson threw a complete-game shutout as Sioux Falls Lincoln took down Sioux Falls Roosevelt, 8-0, in the Class A state baseball quarterfinals Friday afternoon.

The Patriots came out swinging in this first round matchup, scoring four runs in the bottom half of the first to set the tone for the game.

“It was important for us to jump out early. We were fortunate to put a couple bats together, and that first inning was huge,” Sioux Falls Lincoln head coach Jordan Johnson said. “Makes you breathe easier, it helps you relax a little bit, and I think that really opened it up for us to really play our game.”

With the early 4-0 lead, questions within the Lincoln dugout of whether to keep Watson in began to grow. Had Watson left the mound with under 30 pitches, he would’ve been available to pitch in Saturday’s games as well.

“We contemplated it in the second inning,” Johnson said. “I looked at the other coaches and they were unsure so I said ‘You know what, it’s too late, let's just go with it.’ ”

The decision to keep the right-hander in paid off, as Watson threw nearly five innings of no-hit baseball, only suffering two hits, two walks, and three hit-by-pitches while striking out nine batters.

“It’s one of those things where we’d love to save him cause he’s our dude but at the same time you have to get the first one,” Johnson said. “We’ve got other arms that can battle and we know that we can compete.”

The Lincoln offense continued growing the lead, tacking on runs in the third, fifth, and sixth innings.

Sawyer Mindt paced Sioux Falls Lincoln at the plate, batting 3-for-4 with 3-RBIs, including a monster blast that exited the ballpark entirely to cap-off the shutout victory.

Behind Mindt, Kooper Perry drove in three more runs on two hits including a double, Colin Lunders went 2-for-4 with a triple, and Brycen Mitchell batted 2-for-4 from the designated hitter spot.

For Roosevelt, Jacob Mongar took the loss on the mound, surrendering six hits, two walks, and five runs in three innings, Logan Edwards came on giving up another four hits and three runs while striking out seven.

Roosevelt’s two hits came off the bat of Lawsen Hensley and Adler Jensen.

 

Brandon Valley 4, Tea Area 3

SIOUX FALLS — Jackson Adams seventh inning RBI-single lifted Brandon Valley over Tea Area in the quarterfinals of the Class A state tournament Friday night.

After three innings of play, Brandon Valley held a close 3-2 lead over the Titans in what became quite the pitchers duel.

Aiden Zerr was dealing on the mound for Brandon Valley, striking out 14 batters in 6.2 innings, while allowing seven hits, three walks, and three earned runs.

On the other side, Clayton Schwebach did everything he could to keep the TItans in it, allowing three hits, four walks, and three runs in five innings while fanning five batters.

Through six innings the game stood 3-2 in favor of the Lynx, and after recording an inning-opening groundout the Lynx were closing in on the victory.

But they’d have to wait a little longer to seal the game. Following an error, Ethan Vis roped a triple to center that scored the tying run, keeping the Tea Area hopes alive.

They failed to score Vis from third, and turned their attention to getting a stop and going into extras.

But that wouldn’t happen, just four Brandon Valley batters later, the Lynx would walk it off and diminish any chance of an upset.

Adams led the Brandon Valley offense with two hits and an RBI, while Aiden Zerr, Bryton Stroh, and Caleb Finn each tallied hits in the win.

Ethan Vis was a slugger at the plate, batting 3-for-4 with two doubles, a triple, and three runs driven in. Behind him, Mason Schramm added two hits and a walk, and Cole McKinney added two base hits for the Titans as well.

Brandon Valley advances to play No. 2 Sioux Falls Lincoln in the semifinals Saturday at 2:30 p.m. at Sioux Falls Stadium.