The Aberdeen Smittys received another solid pitching performance, but this time it wasn’t quite enough.

The Smittys dropped a 3-1 decision to Sioux Falls West in American Legion baseball action Saturday afternoon at Fossum Field.

After blanking Watertown on Wednesday night, the Smittys held another foe in check as Drake Soderlund gave up just two earned runs and allowed five hits. He worked out of jams leaving multiple runners on base in multiple innings.

“Drake did a tremendous job competing when things weren’t easy. He had runners on base and some pressure situations, but he never sped up and kept making quality pitches,” said Smittys coach Josh Steinwandt. “I thought he showed a lot of toughness and composure out there.”

The Smittys defense showed out throwing out two runners at home.

“Jehiel (Aviles) came up with a great throw gunning the runner out at home. I thought there was no way he could get him at home, but he threw the ball on a line and one hopper to the catcher, just a perfect throw. And then Michael Dutenhoffer does the same thing a couple innings later,” said Steinwandt. “Those were huge momentum plays. Any time you can prevent runs from scoring, especially in a close game, it’s a big boost for your team. Those plays kept us right where we needed to be and gave us a chance to win.”

West got on the board first in the inning on a single down third base line. It wasn’t until the sixth inning when the Smittys got on the board when Jackson Post hit a sac fly tying up the game.

“We just kept competing and put together some quality at-bats late in the game. Jackson came through in a big moment when we needed him most,” Steinwandt said. “That’s a situation where you trust your guys to stay calm, and he did exactly that. It was a huge play that gave us some life and showed the fight this team has.”

In the top of the seventh, West broke the short-lived tie with a two-out blooper over first base scoring two runners.

The second game was called because of rain.

“I’m extremely proud of the effort. Sometimes baseball is a tough game and a ball finds grass at the wrong time. Defensively, I thought our guys played with great energy, focus, and toughness all game long,” said Steinwandt. “Even when the offense wasn’t clicking, they continued to compete and make plays. That’s the kind of resilience you want to see from your team, and we’ll build off that moving forward.”

The Smittys are scheduled to play at Sioux Falls East today.

Sioux Falls West 000 100 2 – 3 7 0

Aberdeen Smittys 000 001 0 – 1 2 1

Kyler and Connor; Drake Soderlund and Levi Hoffman. 3B – Sioux Falls West, Boston.