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2008 South Dakota American
Legion State 'A' Tournament

Sioux Falls West quiets Smitty bats, takes final game of first day

Sioux Falls West and Aberdeen reciting the code prior to Wednesday's game.    

    ABERDEEN -- First a one hour, eight minute delay due to a power outage, then a stellar pitching performance from Sioux Falls West's staff quieted the Aberdeen Smittys' bats on Wednesday night, as Sioux Falls West won the final opening round battle of Wednesday night 5-0. West's Brian Duxbury, Ryan Hander and Sam Lind combined on a six-hit shutout that limited the Smittys to advancing just two base runners into scoring position all night.
    Duxbury allowed just seven base runners total in his 7+ inning start; only one of whom ever reached second base. Ryan Hander and Sam Lind combined to pitch the eight and ninth innings for West, allowing just one hit between the two innings.
    Offensively, West jumped out to an early lead off of a 2-out solo home run by Hander off of the light pole in left center field. West would add three more runs in the fifth to expand their lead to 3-0, thanks to a Spencer Taylor double coupled with a Smitty error scoring Taylor later in the frame. West would score its fifth and final run on a Taylor sac fly in the ninth.
    West will take on Mitchell in the final game (7:30) of Thursday's action at Fossum Field, while the Smittys fall to the loser's bracket and will face Yankton in an elimination game scheduled to start at 12:30.