Watertown Post 17 Baseball Makes Program History With 11-4 Win at Creighton Prep Tournament

Northeast Radio SD News – PAPILLION, Neb. — Watertown Post 17’s bats caught fire on the final day of the Creighton Prep Tournament, racking up 15 hits to secure a decisive 11-4 victory over the Rocky Mountain Lobos.

The win capped off a stellar weekend for Watertown, which finished tournament play with a 4-1 record. According to Head Coach Ryan Neale, this marks the first time in program history that the team has posted a winning record at the highly competitive Omaha-based event.

Offensive Surge

The Arrows’ offense was relentless from the start, featuring multiple key contributors:

·         Jonathan Lake anchored the lineup, going 2-for-4 with a team-leading three runs batted in.

·         Cole Hansen, Jaxon Falak, Markus Pitkin, and Kye Paulson kept the pressure on the Lobos’ pitching staff, each collecting two hits to round out the multi-hit barrage.

Solid Work on the Mound

The pitching staff delivered a combined effort to keep the Rocky Mountain offense in check.

·         Kasen Jensen took the start for the Arrows, allowing just two runs on four hits over three innings of work.

·         Cain Everson earned the win in relief, delivering a steady three innings while yielding two runs on three hits.

·         Markus Pitkin transitioned from his offensive output to the mound, pitching a scoreless final frame to shut the door on the Lobos.

Rocky Mountain found limited offensive success, led by JJ Johnson and Isaiah Pope, who each tallied two hits. Lobos starter Ty Frank took the loss, surrendering seven runs on eight hits and four walks in 3 2/3 innings.

A Program Milestone

Finishing seventh out of a 28-team field is a massive step forward for the program. Coach Neale noted that the team’s sole stumble came against elite competition.

“Our only loss came against Lincoln East, one of the top teams in the Midwest, and a team that advanced to the Final Four of the tournament,” Neale said. “To finish seventh out of 28 teams in Omaha is something our players should be proud of.”

Neale praised both the offense and defense for carrying the load throughout the weekend, but reserved special praise for the depth and resilience of his pitching staff.

“Kooper [Heiser], Clem [Jackson McClemens], and Hunter [Halajian] all gave us quality starts on the mound and put us in position to win baseball games,” Neale said. “Our bullpen was also outstanding, allowing us to stay in games, battle back when we fell behind, and come away with a couple of comeback victories.”

Looking Ahead

As Watertown improves its overall record to 28-16 (13-8), Neale wants the team to harness this momentum for the remainder of the season.

“The biggest thing for us is continuing to play with the mindset that every game matters and every pitch matters,” Neale added. “Baseball isn’t a sport where you can simply flip a switch and decide it’s go time. When we play with the right mentality and maintain our rhythm, we can be a very good baseball team.”

The Arrows will look to extend their success on the road as they travel to Dell Rapids for a doubleheader on June 23.