RAPID CITY The Huron 16U Tigers jumped out early, but control issues on the mound allowed the Aberdeen Smittys 16U club to claw back in until Gavin Waldner shut the door for Huron to earn a 12-9 opening round victory in Rapid City at Fitzgerald Stadium Thursday night.
Huron scored in every inning but the seventh inning, Waldner sparked the first run in the first inning, reaching on an error, stealing second and then scoring the games first run on a single by Elijah Shreeve.
Shreeve would eventually come around on a single by Carter Porisch to give Huron an early 2-0 lead.
The bottom of the first previewed an issue that would plague Huron pitching through most of the game, as starting pitcher Carter Porisch walked the first two hitters he faced. Porisch was fortunate to get out of the inning only allowing one run, and he would enter the fourth inning without allowing a hit over the first three innings, but also with five walks.
Leading 7-1 entering that Smittys frame at the plate, Huron saw Aberdeen push five runs across on four walks and a hit by pitch in the inning between Porisch and reliever Crayton Siedschlag to get Aberdeen back in the game 7-6.
Huron put two more runs on the board in the top of the fifth to push the lead out to 9-6, but control issues put three runs across against Siedschlag to open the inning.
Thats when Waldner came into the game on the mound, shifting from his center field position. He dominated Aberdeen on the mound, allowing just one baserunner over 2 1/3 innings, striking out five Smittys hitters.
In the top of the sixth, the Tigers found themselves tied 9-9. Siedschlag opened the inning with a single, stole second, and Chase Schuchhardt followed with a single that moved Siedschlag to third. Siedschlag would score on a wild pitch that moved Schuchhardt all the way to third.
Nolan Stahly then walked and stole second. Jeremy Hofer walked to load the bases.
Oakley Anderson drew a full count walk to score a run, and a scary moment then ensued as Waldner was hit in the head by a pitch, bringing in the Tigers third run of the inning. Waldner would remain in the game to close out the game on the mound and make the three run lead stand as the Tigers closed out a 12-9 victory.
Porisch went three innings to open the game, pitching into the fourth inning, but he did not get an out in the inning. He allowed five runs on one hit and seven walks while he was on the mound, striking out six. Siedschlag followed with 1 2/3 innings, allowing four runs on five hits and three walks while striking out two.
Waldner was the catalyst on offense from his leadoff spot, with a triple, single, walk, and a hit by pitch. He stole a pair of bases as well. Hofer and Shreeve each reached base three times. Hofer walked three times and Shreeve had a pair of singles and a walk. Each had one stolen base.
Cooper Bischoff and Carter Porisch each had a pair of singles.
Anderson Porisch, Schuchhardt, and Stahly each had a single and a walk.
The Tigers pushed the issue on the bases, stealing seven bases. Bischoff, Siedschlag, and Stahly each added steals.
Huron won its 20th game of the season and is now 20-10 on the season. Friday evening, the Tigers played Renner 16U Friday evening and will face Brandon Valley this morning to end pool play, with championship play beginning Sunday.
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