Mitchell baseball team splits doubleheader with Watertown

Patience is a virtue.

The Mitchell Kernels high school baseball team used a patient approach in its first game of a doubleheader against Watertown Saturday to walk their way to an 8-3 win.

The Kernels (6-2) drew 10 walks in the opening game, played at Cadwell Park in Mitchell. Watertown bounced back to win the second game 4-1.

“We always talk about how it doesn’t matter how you get on base,” Mitchell head coach Luke Norden said. “Guys were really patient.”

Mitchell trailed early in the first game, when Watertown scored one in the first inning off starter Josh Schmidt.

Mitch Trego started for Watertown and left after three innings with the Arrows leading 1-0. Michael Sitter came in to relieve Trego and struggled.

Sitter allowed five earned runs in one-third of an inning. He walked five hitters and gave up a single to Evan Mastel that drove in two runs and gave the Kernels their first lead of the day.

Watertown got two runs back in the top of the fifth, when Kolton Michalski belted a two-run blast, but Schmidt did not allow another run. Mitchell’s Michael Sadler pitched a 1-2-3 seventh inning for the Kernels.

Schmidt earned the win, going six innings and giving up three runs on six hits and two walks. He recorded two strikeouts.

Calvin Limberg was the only Mitchell player with multiple hits in the opener, going 2-for-2 with two RBIs and crossing the plate twice.

“We hit the ball hard at times,” Norden said. “We haven’t had to play from behind too much. It was good to see us have some patience and gain some momentum in later innings.”

Mitchell played from behind in game two as well, although the team was unable to mount a comeback.

Mastel started for the Kernels and allowed two runs in the second and third innings. He took the loss after throwing five innings and giving up four runs and eight hits. He struck out one Watertown hitter.

Even though the team was unsuccessful in coming back in game two, Norden thought the team did some things well.

“I thought we got better,” he said. “We did some good things. We just didn’t execute a couple of things in some key innings.”

Seth Cavanaugh went 2-for-4 in game two with one RBI to lead the team at the plate. Sadler scored the only run in the nightcap.

Brody Ries started for Watertown and pitched effectively. Alex Turbak came in for the save as Mitchell dropped to 6-2 after the loss.

The Kernels’ next game is Tuesday as they travel to take on Sioux Falls Washington. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m.

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