Watertown Baseball Rides Peak Momentum Into July

WATERTOWN — Going into the opening weeks of the season, the Watertown baseball dugout was clouded by a massive question mark. After losing a significant chunk of veteran leadership from the past couple of summers, the roster was flooded with mostly fresh faces making their varsity debuts. No one quite knew what this team was going to look like.

But as the calendar flips to July, a definitive identity has finally emerged. Sitting at 16-10, Post 17 has transformed from a young squad searching for answers into a dangerous, resilient ball club riding a massive wave of mid-season momentum.

According to coach Ryan Neale, the turning point wasn’t a single pitch or a lucky break—it was the high school season.

“The high school season was the feeling-out process,” Neale said. “Getting to the state tournament and doing what we did… that’s a confidence builder. The kids know what they’re capable of night in and night out now. You know you can play with the best of the best.”

The One-Two-Three Punch
That confidence starts on the mound, where Post 17 boasts a formidable three-headed monster in Jackson McClemens, Hunter Halajian, and Tripp Jorgenson. When that trio gets a lead, it completely alters the team’s mental approach.

Perhaps no player embodies the team’s sudden surge better than Hunter Halajian. Just a day after making a commitment to pitch at the next level, Halajian has turned heads across the state in his first taste of varsity action. While the coaching staff always knew the arm talent was there, his rapid maturation has been the season’s biggest surprise.

“He’s opened a lot of eyes,” Neale noted. “He’s really given a lot of confidence to his teammates when he’s on the mound. He’s got that swag… you just look at him and he’s got it. His work ethic has been absolutely phenomenal.”

Rebuilding the Wall
While the pitching has been stellar, it’s the defensive turnaround that has truly unlocked Post 17’s potential. Replacing an entire infield from the previous year is a nightmare scenario for any coaching staff, and it took most of May to figure out where the puzzle pieces fit best.

The breakthrough came when players began settling into specialized roles. Kye Paulson, who missed chunks of early time due to track and field, settled in to lock down third base. Meanwhile, Cain Everson—who played third during the high school season—shifted to second base.

The result? A fielding percentage that has skyrocketed since May, which was prominently on display during a “crisp” defensive showing in Omaha that allowed Watertown to battle through adversity and secure close wins.

“I know it’s a little clichéish, but the identity is simple: we get good starting pitching and we play defense,” Neale said. “Nobody likes to hear the words ‘trust the process’ because we all want to win right now. But we needed to be able to put guys in different positions.”

A Balanced Attack
The growth isn’t limited to the field; it has translated directly to the batter’s box. Over the last few weeks, the lineup has lengthened into a balanced, one-through-nine threat.

A lot of that production belongs to a hungry group of players stepping into the spotlight. Carter Buisker, Cain Everson, Cole Hansen, and Jackson McClemans have all taken massive steps forward, turning playing time into concrete results.

More importantly, the team’s mental approach at the plate has matured. Hitters are staying dialed in for the crucial, game-defining at-bats in the sixth and seventh innings.

The Home Stretch
With roughly eight games left on the schedule, Watertown currently occupies the No. 8 spot in the state power points. They’ve already gone toe-to-toe with the top four teams in South Dakota, proving they can run with anyone.

There is still ground to be made up in the standings before the super regionals arrive. With games against Pierre, Renner, and Brookings left on the schedule—teams currently crowding around Watertown in the rankings—the race is tight. If Watertown keeps pitching it and catching it at this level, the postseason is going to be a wild ride.

As Neale puts it: “It just makes baseball fun.”