Mitchell Black baseball wins a pair of games at Sioux Falls tourney

SIOUX FALLS — The Mitchell 14-and-under teener baseball team had a solid weekend at the Sioux Falls Slam tournament at Harmodon Park.

In Friday’s opener, Mitchell lost 3-2 to Renner, before bouncing back with wins over the Northwest Legends (Iowa) 7-5 and 15-8 over the Chanhassen (Minn.) Storm. It set up a Sunday game against the Rapid City Playmakers to close the tournament, which Mitchell dropped 10-9.

In Friday’s opener, Tyler Christensen started the game on the mound, throwing six innings with four strikeouts and allowing three runs. Carter McCormick and Kendan Skinner each had RBIs in the loss, in which Renner took an early 3-0 lead.

Against Northwest, Mitchell led 7-1 after five innings, powered by a five-run fourth inning. Kendan Skinner, Tyler Christensen and Jaxson Hartman each drove in a pair of runs, with Dawson Adams adding to the offense with a two-hit day. Jacob Ebert was the winning pitcher with 5 2/3 innings pitched with five strikeouts, five runs and seven hits allowed.

Against Chanhassen, Mitchell scored 10 runs over the first three innings and smashed 12 hits. Van Johnson was the winning pitcher in relief, throwing four innings and allowing one run on two hits, with three strikeouts. Jaxson Hartman, the starting pitcher, had three hits and three runs scored for Mitchell at the plate, including a home run, with Kendan Skinner and Tyler Christensen each driving in a pair of runs.

Mitchell tried to use a furious rally against Rapid City, scoring six runs in the bottom of the seventh inning but was held to only four hits in the game. Dawson Jonnassen was the starting pitcher and threw 4 2/3 innings allowing nine hits, nine runs (six earned) while striking out three.

Mitchell Black (6-12) plays a doubleheader at Huron starting at 5 p.m. on June 14.