Sioux Falls Lincoln put on a defensive show, Brandon Valley’s DJ Schoby produced a power display, and the weather rearranged the Class AA schedule during the opening day of the State Softball Tournament at Koehler Hall of Fame Field.

Top-seeded Lincoln stopped Yankton 7-1, Sioux Falls Jefferson defeated Sioux Falls Washington 8-2, and Brandon Valley blanked Harrisburg 10-0.

Lincoln used some nifty defense in its victory over Yankton. Rightfielder Reese Husman gunned out two runners at first base after they hit balls into the outfield, centerfielder Dilynn Severson made a diving catch that led to a double play, and first baseman Kierra Lubovich caught a sinking liner for an unassisted double play.

“It’s really easy to pitch and effortless without pressure when I know that my defense can make plays like that,” said Lincoln starting pitcher Madison Evans.

While Evans faced many full counts on the day, she was able to avoid any big innings.

“Again, I know that if I just throw strikes, it’s OK if they hit it, because I know that my defense has my back and they’re going to make plays,” Evans said. “Along with that, I know that my team is going to hit for me and score runs for me, so I’ll always have that kind of cushion.”

Evans helped her own cause by collecting three hits.

The Patriots scored three runs in the third and fourth more in the fourth to take control.

Meanwhile, Evans kept barreling the ball in on the Yankton hitters who were unable get around on it most of the contest.

“That’s why I like to pitch inside, because they tend to be late,” Evans said, “so when they’re inside and they hit it, I tend to get weak ground balls to the right side.”

Avery Dorman also had three hits for Lincoln, which faces Jefferson in the semifinals around 3:30 this afternoon.

Jefferson took advantage of some Washington miscues to set the tone in its victory. The Cavaliers scored two runs on an error and a passed ball to start the game and then added three runs in the third, two coming on Brianna Herndon’s single.

Emma Buie finished with three hits to lead Jefferson’s 13-hit attack.

Schoby finished off the opening day with a monster effort that included three hits and featured back-to-back two-run homers.

Schoby hit a rocket over the left-centerfield fence in the fifth, before crushing a ball to dead center in the sixth.

“I just have to keep my calm and just go with the ball,” Schoby said, “and if it’s in the right spot, it’s gone.”

While she liked both home runs, one meant a bit more to her.

“The first one, definitely, because it was more of a line drive,” Schoby said. “I liked that one. I knew that one was gone right away.”

The blasts were the 28th and 29th of her career. The sophomore started hitting home runs in the fall of her eight-grade season. She said her siblings have been good role models.

“I had two sisters,” Schoby said. “I watched them grow up every weekend on the softball field.”

The win avenged a one-run loss to Harrisburg during the regular season.

The Lynx will await the winner of the Brookings-O’Gorman game which was postponed to 8 this morning.

While many players had to wait until the rain moved out of the area on Thursday, Schoby and her teammates were ready when their time came.

“We did watch some softball (on TV), so we weren’t completely sitting around,” Schoby said. “We just came back and then we had a great mindset.”

Sioux Falls Lincoln 003 400 0 – 7 10 0

Yankton 000 010 0 – 1 5 5 Madison Evans and Avery Dorman, Ella DuBois; Grace Berhns and Elle Feser, Hailey Schulte. 2B – Sioux Falls Lincoln, Dilynn Severson. 3B – Yankton, Emma Eichacker.

Sioux Falls Jefferson 203 002 1 0 – 8 13 5

Sioux Falls Washington 010 010 0 – 2 7 3

Whitney Portner and Emma Buie; Emma Hensley and Isabel Carda. 2B – Sioux Falls Jefferson, Buie; Sioux Falls Washington, Teirney Schramm, Hensley. 3B – Sioux Falls Jefferson, Sidney Jensen.

Brandon Valley 040 042 – 10 9 1

Harrisburg 000 000 – 0 3 3 Jorden Gabert, Shelby Ackerman (6) and Schoby; Cora Payne, Madelyn Ducheneaux (5) and Makayla Hudson. 2B – Brandon Valley, Gabert, Peyton Amdahl. 3B – Brandon Valley, Macy Lembcke, Amdahl. HR – Brandon Valley, Schoby 2.