It started with temps in the 80s and ended six hours later with windchills in the 30s.

The Aberdeen Smittys got their long awaited high school baseball season underway with a doubleheader that featured a combined 49 runs, 43 hits, and 17 errors as the local squad was swept by Pierre 15-11 and 14-9 at Fossum Field Thursday night.

The Smittys collected six extra-base hits and scored at least three runs in four different innings, but were plagued by 10 total errors in the two contests.

“We hit the crap out of the ball, a home run, a couple of triples, all that stuff. Defensively, that was our biggest downfall, that’s our Achilles heel right now,” said Smittys coach Nathan Gonnelly. “That’s something I’ve been talking to these boys about like hey, that’s our main focus this year. If we can fix the defense, with the amount of runs that we score, with the amount of hits that we get, we’re going to be just fine.”

It took a bit for Aberdeen to get going in the opener. The Smittys had been waiting to play a game for the past two weeks and have had four games called off because of the weather.

“It’s just so hard,” said Joe Cogley. “You’re waiting for the work you put in during the off season to finally pay off.”

Cogley said delay had an impact during the opening game.

“Especially first inning, it took us a little while to get going,” Cogley said. “I think that definitely played a part, because that first at-bat, you haven’t seen live pitching.”

Pierre built a 5-1 lead in the opener before the Smittys scored four times in the bottom of the fourth inning to tie the score.

Michael Dutenhoffer doubled to start the frame and Levi Hoffman followed with a home run to highlight the inning.

The visitors then scored five unanswered runs to threaten to break the game open, only to have Aberdeen score four times in the bottom of the sixth. Will Haskell drove in a pair with a double.

However, Pierre tacked on five more runs in the seventh without the aid of a hit. The Smittys responded with a pair of runs in the bottom half of the inning, but it wasn’t enough.

“I’m proud of them for the energy that they had,” Gonnelly said. “They just kept the energy the entire time.”

Jackson Post had four hits in the first game, and Cogley added three.

The second game was much the same with Pierre scoring and Aberdeen responding. However, seven errors did not help the Smittys’ cause.

“I think we need to focus on a lot of defense,” Post said. “I think the next practice focus on all defense, no swinging.”

Aberdeen scored three times in the bottom of the first for a 3-1 lead as Post had an RBI triple. However, Pierre scored five times in the second, and after Aberdeen tied the score at 6-6 in the fourth, the visitors plated six more runs in the fifth.

The Smittys once again cut into the margin with three runs in the bottom of the fifth as Post drove in another run. However, that was as close as Aberdeen would get.

Post and Hoffman each had two hits in the second game.

Aberdeen finished with same amount of total hits as Pierre in the doubleheader.

“I thought we matched up pretty well against these guys, just a few errors cost us,” Cogley said.

He said the Smittys will be fine once they get more playing time.

“That will come. We haven’t had too much time on the field,” Cogley said. “I’m not too worried about that stuff. I think we’ll be good.”

By the end of the evening, it felt more like football weather than baseball as the conditions changed radically from the opening pitch of the twinbill.

“I was at shortstop. I couldn’t really feel much out there,” Post said. “It was getting pretty cold. That wind was hitting me pretty hard.”

Aberdeen’s games with Tea Area have been moved from Saturday to Sunday at 1 p.m. because of the weather.

Pierre 030 223 5 – 15 11 3

Aberdeen Smittys 001 404 2 – 11 15 3

Brennan McCullough, Carter Templeton (4), Justin Neuharth (6) and Carter Schiefelbein; Michael Dutenhoffer, Wheeler Malsam (4), Jackson Post (5), Joe Cogley (7), Ridley Waldo (7) and Levi Hoffman. 2B – Pierre, Tripp Lindekugel; Aberdeen Smittys, Dutenhoffer, Waldo, Will Haskell. 3B – Pierre, Aydan Johnson. HR – Aberdeen Smittys, Hoffman.

Pierre 150 061 1 – 14 11 4

Aberdeen Smittys 310 230 0 – 9 7 7

Hudson Stoeser and Sutton Sonnenschein; Donovan Kiesow, Ridley Waldo (3), J. Rivera (5), Levi Hoffman (7) and Hoffman, Will Haskell (7). 2B – Aberdeen Smittys, Joe Cogley. 3B – Pierre, Sonnenschein, Will Eilers; Aberdeen Smittys, Jackson Post.