Apr. 7—RAPID CITY — Wrapping up a four-game West River road trip, the Mitchell High School baseball team split a pair of Sunday contests to finish its opening weekend of play at 3-1.
The Kernels edged out Sturgis 7-5 in Sunday's first game, then took their first loss of the season against Rapid City Stevens, which ran away with a 13-1 win in five innings. However, with three wins from the first four games, Mitchell has already matched its win total from spring 2024.
Against Sturgis, Mitchell trailed 5-4 through six innings but rallied to tie the game in the seventh and win it in the eighth with a pair of runs. Conor Mattke plated Jaxson Hartman for the game-tying run on a sacrifice fly, while Brennen Penne singled to drive in Kaiden Allen for the game-winning run. Penne also came around to score.
Hudson Borgan, Parker Mandel and Bailor Kristensen all added one hit, with Kristensen leading the team with two runs batted in. Hartman drew a pair of walks, and Jacob Ebert scored two runs. Four Mitchell pitchers combined to strike out 10 batters, led by four off the arm of Mason Herman. Quinton Wilson registered 2 2/3 no-hit innings with two walks and two strikeouts to earn the pitching win.
Elijah Stroud, Brody Royer and Carter Williams each had two hits for Sturgis. Royer got the start on the mound and struck out six batters across 4 2/3 innings. Stroud was tagged with the pitching loss in 2 2/3 innings of relief.
In Mitchell's second game of the day, Stevens scored two runs in the first inning, six in the third and five in the fourth. Meanwhile, the Raiders limited the Kernels to one hit and a lone fourth-inning run.
Hartman was the lone Kernel to get a hit, while Carter McCormick, Canon Moller and Kristensen earned walks. Penne scored Mitchell's run after reaching on a dropped third strike. Gavin Jones was credited with the pitching loss, going two innings in his start with two strikeouts, one hit, three walks and three earned runs.
For Stevens, Morgan DelaPena and Ty Vallette both had two hits, and Teagen Smith had two RBIs. Jackson Dial nabbed the pitching win with seven strikeouts, one hit, two walks and no earned runs in four innings.
Mitchell (3-1) visits Sioux Falls Roosevelt on Tuesday, April 8, for a single seven-inning contest.
