WATERTOWN – Michael Dutenhoffer turned in a pitching gem to help the Aberdeen Smittys gain a split with Watertown in American Legion baseball action Wednesday night.
After Watertown won the opener 13-3, Dutenhoffer tossed a three-hit shutout with 15 strikeouts to lift the Smittys to a 4-0 win in the nightcap.
“Just so proud of this team coming into this game undermanned, losing the first game and coming back and winning the second game,” said Smittys coach Josh Steinwandt.
Aberdeen scored all of its runs in the fourth inning in the victory.
A pair of walks and a hit batter loaded the bases before Donovan Kiesow drew a walk to force in a run. Jehiel Aviles then produced a two-run single, and Jackson Post capped the scoring with a run-scoring single.
Watertown threatened in the bottom of the seventh, putting two on with nobody out. However, Dutenhoffer then struck out the side to put the finishing touches on the victory.
“Dutenhoffer had one of the best pitching performances I’ve ever seen,” Steinwandt said. “Hats off to him.”
Post had a pair of hits to lead the Aberdeen offense.
Aviles started off the first game with a double and scored on an error to give the Smittys the lead. Joe Cogley then singled, stole two bases and scored on a sacrifice fly by Dutenhoffer.
However, Watertown responded with three runs in the bottom of the first and added another run in the second.
The Smittys closed the deficit to 4-3 with a run in the fifth when Aviles walked, stole second and third, and scored on a ground out.
The Lakers then scored nine unanswered runs, six in the fifth and three more in the sixth to end the contest.
Aviles had two hits in that game.
The Smittys have their home opener on Saturday, hosting Sioux Falls West.
Aberdeen Smittys 200 010 – 3 5 3
Watertown Lakers 310 063 – 13 15 1
Branson Peterson, Donovan Kiesow (5) and Levi Hoffman; Kooper Heiser and J. Lake. 2B – Aberdeen Smittys, Jehiel Aviles; Watertown Lakers, Carter Buisker.
Aberdeen Smittys 000 400 0 – 4 3 1
Watertown Lakers 000 000 0 – 0 3 0
Michael Dutenhoffer and Levi Hoffman; Asthon Rabine, K. Jensen (4) and M. Sears. 2B – Watertown, Sam Olson. 3B – Aberdeen Smittys, Jackson Post.
