Arrows Use Power and Pitching to Sweep the Tea Area in Thursday's Doubleheader

Northeast Radio SD News – Watertown, SD - Watertown opened its home slate with a decisive doubleheader sweep of Tea Area on Thursday at Watertown Stadium, combining a run‑rule victory in the opener with steady pitching and aggressive baserunning in the nightcap.

Game 1: Watertown 10, Tea Area 0

The Arrows closed out the first game in five innings, fueled by a seven‑run surge in the bottom of the fifth. Kooper Heiser delivered the decisive blow, launching a three‑run home run to end the contest under the run rule.

Watertown finished with 11 hits, led by multi‑hit performances from Cole Hansen, Jaxon Falak, and Cain Everson. On the mound, Hunter Halajian turned in a dominant outing, allowing just one hit and striking out five across five innings.

“The floodgates opened, and we went whack‑whack‑whack,” head coach Ryan Neale said. “We took advantage of an extra out, and we put up a seven‑spot to close the game out. Offensively, it was a very positive night from early on.”

Avery Hangman recorded Tea Area’s lone hit. Ethan Knettel took the loss, giving up 10 runs in 4 2/3 innings.

Game 2: Watertown 6, Tea Area 4

In the second game, Watertown leaned on timely hitting and pressure on the basepaths to complete the sweep. Falak drove in two runs, and the Arrows swiped seven bases—four of them between Falak and Markus Pitkin.

Watertown used a planned “pitcher‑by‑committee” approach, with Jackson McClemans earning the win after three innings of work. Ashton Rabine and Everson followed with scoreless relief, and Kasen Jensen closed the door for the save.

“That was designed to continue building arm strength for a lot of these guys,” Neale said. “They all threw the ball across the plate and made them put it in play. It was a good night from the staff overall.”

Tea Area collected hits from Easton Foudray, Zach Pies, Tyson Gilbert, Knettel, and Zach Rieland. Hangman took the loss after allowing five runs in 2 2/3 innings.

Up Next

Watertown (3–1) is scheduled to travel to Sioux Falls on Saturday for matchups with Roosevelt and Jefferson, pending a weather‑related decision expected later today.