Strong pitching performances and a pair of three-run innings lifted the Sisseton-Britton-Webster (SBW) baseball squad to a season-opening sweep over Warner-Ipswich-Northwestern (WIN) on Sunday in Northville.
The Mallards pushed across three runs in the top of the eighth inning to break a 1-1 deadlock and post a 4-2 win in the opener. They also used a three-run third frame on the way to a 3-2 victory in the second contest. SBW will play a twin bill at Miller on Sunday starting at 2 p.m. and hosts Groton in Britton for two next week Wednesday at 5:30 p.m.
“We had outstanding outings from all four of our pitchers in both games,” said SBW coach Mark Nelson. “Our two starters were excellent and our relievers followed suit. They all did a great job locating their pitches and keeping hitters off balance. There were times during both games where the score was close and the pitchers definitely felt the pressure, but they were poised and remained competitive all day long. I was also proud of our defense behind our pitching staff (one error in the two games).”
Nelson thinks his club can be better offensively.
“We scored enough runs to win both games, but I think our situational hitting could improve. We were aggressive on the base paths, which worked to our advantage in game one but maybe cost us a run in game two. But all day long we played fast, athletic baseball as a team.”
Ben Suther was dominant on the mound in the 4-2 victory, fanning 12 WIN batters in just four innings, allowing only two hits, and he did not walk a batter. Kaden Mills pitched an inning of one-hit relief with a strikeout and Rylan Anderson hurled the final three frames and earned the win, fanning four for a total of 17 strikeouts by the SBW staff.
Colton Chapin doubled, drew three walks, and knocked in a run for the Mallards. LJ Crooks singled and collected two RBI’s, Levi Nelson had a single and RBI, and Anderson and Carter Stickland added base hits. The Mallards took advantage of eight walks and Stickland stole a pair of bases.
Crooks went six innings in the 3-2 victory, giving up just four hits and striking out four. Mills earned the save with an inning of relief.
“I think one of the coolest things I saw throughout the day was LJ Crooks throwing an immaculate inning (three strikeouts with nine pitches) in the fourth inning of our second game,” noted Nelson. “That is a very rare baseball accomplishment. He didn’t even know he did it until I told him. Ben and LJ are a pretty powerful one-two combination.”
Nelson doubled and knocked in a pair of runs, Max Dahlen singled twice, Crooks added a base hit, and Stickland collected the other RBI. Will Richter had two stolen bases.
