Spearfish Post 164 closed out the regular season with a demanding five-game stretch that included road doubleheaders against Watertown and Aberdeen before finishing at home against the powerhouse Rapid City Post 22 Hardhats.
The week began on a positive note Wednesday in Watertown, where Spearfish split a doubleheader with the Post 17 Arrows.
In the opener, Post 164 earned an 8-6 victory behind strong production from the bottom of the lineup. Bray Bowar, Carson Wood, and Cooper Chase combined for four hits, four runs scored, and five RBIs. Bowar delivered the biggest blow with a three-run double during a four-run fourth inning that helped Spearfish regain the lead.
Tucker Olson, Bowar, and Chase each collected two hits, while Jack Scharf earned the victory in relief, allowing just one run over four innings with five strikeouts. Spearfish played clean defense and held off a late Watertown push to secure the win.
The momentum didn’t carry into the nightcap, however, as Watertown erupted for six runs in the third inning and handed Spearfish a 10-0 loss. Walker Viessman recorded the lone hit for Post 164, while Bray Bowar took the loss on the mound.
Thursday brought another challenging doubleheader, this time against the Aberdeen Smittys at Fossum Field. Aberdeen and Spearfish entered the doubleheader ranked 14th and 13th in the standings.
In game one, Spearfish jumped out to a 5-1 lead and appeared in control early. Sean Sewell, Cooper Chase, and Tucker Olson each drove in runs as Post 164 built a four-run advantage. But Aberdeen responded with a five-run fourth inning, highlighted by Jehiel Aviles’ three-run triple, and completed a comeback for a 9-6 victory.
Tucker Viessman paced Spearfish offensively with two hits, while the team drew six walks but couldn’t slow down an Aberdeen lineup that finished with 13 hits.
The second game followed a similar script. Spearfish held leads and ties early before Aberdeen’s offense broke through with a seven-run fourth inning. The Smittys rolled to a 13-3 victory behind a 19-hit attack. Walker Viessman and Tucker Viessman each collected hits, while Tucker Olson and the Viessmans drove in the team’s three runs.
The regular-season finale Saturday proved to be the toughest test of all as Spearfish hosted Rapid City Post 22 in a makeup game needed for postseason eligibility.
The Hardhats showed why they are among the state’s elite programs, scoring 12 runs in the second inning and cruising to a 25-1 victory. Post 22 finished with 19 hits and 11 walks, led by Jaxson Reeder’s five RBIs and multi-hit performances from Aiden Roberts, Lars Kieffer, and Brayden Stapert.
Sean Sewell and Darin Crooks accounted for Spearfish’s two hits, while Tucker Viessman took the loss.
Despite the difficult finish, Post 164 showed flashes of promise during the week, particularly in the opening win over Watertown, where the bottom of the lineup sparked the offense and the pitching staff combined to secure a key road victory. Plus, even with the losses to the lower-ranked Smittys, Spearfish finishes ahead of Aberdeen, ending as the 13th seed.
Spearfish closes the regular season at 13-21 overall and 3-17 in Legion play. The 13th-seeded Post 164 squad now turns its attention to postseason baseball, where it will travel to face No. 4 seed Brandon Valley in a best-of-three opening-round series beginning Wednesday night and continuing Thursday. The winner advances to the South Dakota Legion State Tournament.
