Watertown Post 17 Blanks Pierre 2-0, Earns Third Straight Trip to South Dakota State Legion Tournament

Northeast Radio SD News – Watertown, SD - Hunter Halajian fired a complete‑game shutout to lift Watertown Post 17 to a 2‑0 win over Pierre in Game 2 of the Class A Super Regionals, securing the program’s third straight trip to the State American Legion Tournament.

The victory also avenged Pierre’s July 6 doubleheader sweep at Watertown Stadium.

Halajian was dominant throughout, striking out six and allowing just five hits over seven innings.

Watertown’s offense produced seven hits, led by Markus Pitkin and Sam Olson, who each recorded multi‑hit games. Pitkin finished 2‑for‑3 with two RBIs, driving in both of Post 17’s runs.

Watertown struck early in the first inning when Pitkin singled home Cole Hansen. Pitkin delivered again in the sixth, ripping an RBI triple to score Carter Buisker and double the lead. Kye Paulson added a hit as well.

Pierre collected five hits, paced by Hudson Stoeser, who went 2‑for‑3. Will Danburg took the loss after allowing two runs on seven hits over 5 1/3 innings.

Neale Praises Pitching and Defense

Head Coach Ryan Neale credited his team’s execution on the mound and in the field across the two‑day series.

“Clem (Jackson McClemans) and Hunter (Halajian) were outstanding over the past two days,” Neale said. “Both threw complete games, limited the free passes, attacked the strike zone, and trusted our defense to make plays behind them. When we’re playing our best baseball, our defense is one of our biggest strengths, and that was on full display with two error‑free games.”

Neale also highlighted the team’s balanced lineup.

“We put together quality at‑bats throughout the series and did enough to come away with two wins,” he said. “What I really like about this group is its balance. We don’t rely on just one or two players. We had different guys step up in key situations, deliver big hits, and pick each other up throughout the weekend.”

Watertown, which hosted last year’s state tournament, now shifts its focus to Rapid City.

“First and foremost, anytime you earn a trip to the State Tournament, it’s something to be proud of because it’s never easy to get there,” Neale said. “We’ll head to Rapid City with confidence, build off the momentum from our high school state tournament run, and see what we can accomplish together.”

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