The first week of the Aberdeen Smittys' American Legion season is in the books.
Aberdeen split a doubleheader with Pierre Post 8 on Sunday. The Smittys edged Pierre 9-7 in game two, while they dropped the first game 8-3.
The Smittys began their season last Sunday. They opened their season by dropping five of their six first games. However, Aberdeen has won three of its last four games.
"We are starting to play better baseball," Aberdeen coach Justin Downes said. "A lot of that is just getting repetitions in a lot of different situations."
The Smittys came up big in a tough situation to win the second game. The score was knotted up at 6-6 going into the top of the seventh inning. Aberdeen's Trey Vilhauer and Michael Stotz hit a pair of singles to start the inning. Matt Swallow then had a pinch-hit two RBI double to break the tie and Dalton Cox added an RBI double to plate another run. Pierre added a run in the bottom of the seventh, but the three runs scored by Aberdeen were enough to eke out the win.
Cox went 3-for-4 in game two and drove in three runs. Stotz went 2-for-3 with a double. Jordan Albee added a double as well. Aberdeen out-hit Pierre 11-7 in the second game.
Aberdeen scored two runs in the first inning of game one, but Pierre answered with five runs in the home half of the inning. Post 8 led off the first inning with five straight hits.
"They started off really well," Downes said, "but then (Aberdeen pitcher Zach) Lundquist really kind of settled into a groove and pitched real nicely the rest of the way."
Cox went 2-for-4 in game one, while Carter Paulson also went 2-for-4 with a double and drove in a pair of runs.
Aberdeen is now 4-6 on the young season.
"We are starting to get into a nice little groove here and hopefully we can keep it going this week," Downes said. "Bismarck comes to town and they are going to be a good team, too."
Aberdeen will host Bismarck, N.D., on Thursday in a 5 p.m. doubleheader at Fossum Field.
Aberdeen|2000100-360
Pierre|520100x-8112
Zach Lundquist and Michael Stotz; Willie Welch, Alexander Gray (7) and Gray, Austin Wagner. 2B - Aberdeen, Carter Paulson; Pierre, Gray. 3B - Pierre, Ryan Goodwin, Cash Anderson.
Aberdeen|1032003-9113
Pierre|2210011-771
Lucas Lorenz, Jesse Babcock (4) and John Frisco; Alec Norwick, Cage Curtis and Wagner. 2B - Aberdeen, Stotz, Matt Swallow, Jordan Albee; Pierre, Gray, Anderson, Wagner.