Kernels baseball team clinches home field with three-win weekend

RAPID CITY — The Mitchell high school baseball team locked up home-field advantage for the region tournament after winning three of four games in Rapid City over the weekend.

The Kernels, who will host the region tournament May 19, swept a doubleheader Saturday against Rapid City Stevens 6-4 and 16-5 before splitting a two-game series with Rapid City Central on Sunday.

Mitchell lost its first game to Rapid City Central 1-0, despite pitcher Evan Mastel allowing no earned runs in a complete-game loss.

The Kernels’ bats came alive in game two as the team needed only five innings to earn a 20-6 victory.

“The guys came out ready to go in the second game,” head coach Luke Norden said. “The guys knew what was at stake and wanted to make sure we had home field advantage in regionals.”

After being shut out the game before, the first eight batters for Mitchell scored in the nightcap.

Brent Havlik went 2-for-2 in the win, including a grand slam. He finished the game with four RBIs and three runs scored.

Seth Cavanaugh, Havlik and Michael Sadler picked up wins on the mound for the Kernels over the weekend.

Cavanaugh’s win came in relief after Josh Schmidt struck out eight Rapid City Stevens batters in five innings, but the team was unable to capture the lead until later in the game.

Mitchell (12-5) returns to the diamond to square off against Sioux Falls Washington and Huron Saturday at Cadwell Park in Mitchell. The Kernels take on S.F. Washington at 1 p.m. and Huron at 5 p.m.

Tags: sports, updates, mitchell, kernels, baseball