Watertown Post 17 following regional win at Pierre
Photo: Ryan Neale
RAPID CITY, S.D. — Watertown Post 17 entered the 2026 Class A American Legion State Tournament with momentum after sweeping Pierre in the Super Regionals, but the No. 10 seed knew an uphill climb awaited.
“When the lights are on and the stage is big, these guys have kind of stepped up in the right moments,” Watertown head coach Ryan Neale said after the regional victory.
That mindset was immediately tested against tournament host and top-seeded Rapid City Post 22, which had already swept Watertown during the regular season. Post 22 continued its dominance in the opening round, collecting 13 hits in a 10-2 victory.
Jackson McClemans took the loss after allowing four runs on six hits over two innings before being lifted early, a move Neale said was made with the tournament’s pitch-count rules in mind.
“Looking back, that decision ended up playing a big role in our tournament run,” Neale said.
The defeat sent Watertown to the elimination bracket, where it faced another familiar opponent in Brandon Valley, which had swept Post 17 during the regular season.
After surrendering three runs in the first inning, Hunter Halajian settled in and turned in one of the team’s best pitching performances of the season. The right-hander scattered five hits while throwing seven scoreless innings and striking out six to keep Watertown within striking distance.
“After a shaky start, he settled in and gave us seven outstanding innings, allowing our offense time to find its rhythm,” Neale said.
Watertown tied the game in the seventh when Cain Everson executed a safety squeeze that scored McClemans.
With two outs in the eighth inning, Jaxon Falak delivered the biggest hit of the game, lining a two-run single to right field to give Post 17 its first lead at 5-3. Carter Buisker closed the door in relief as Watertown completed the comeback victory. For Buisker, it was a redemption moment after taking the loss on the mound during the high school championship game.
The win kept Post 17 alive for another elimination game Thursday against Rapid City Post 320.
Watertown wasted little time taking control as Markus Pitkin blasted a three-run home run in the first inning. Pitkin finished 2-for-3 with four RBIs to pace the offense.
Meanwhile, McClemans returned on short rest and dominated on the mound, allowing six hits over seven scoreless innings while striking out four in a 7-0 victory.
“Because we managed Clem’s pitch count in the opening game, he was ready to come back and that proved to be a huge advantage,” Neale said.
McClemans’ performance capped a remarkable season on the mound. He finished with a 1.22 ERA, breaking the Watertown Baseball record of 1.26 set by Spencer Waites in 1996.
The victory pushed Watertown into the state tournament’s final four, but its postseason run ended Friday with an 8-0 loss to Sioux Falls West. West later fell to Rapid City Post 22 in the championship game.
“Our only two losses came against the two teams that eventually played for the state championship,” Neale said. “I couldn’t be more proud of what this team accomplished. To finish tied for third in the state after entering the tournament as the No. 10 seed says a lot about the character of this group.
Watertown closed the season with a 23-17 record.
“To finish as the Class A high school state runner-up and then come back to earn a tie for third at the American Legion State Tournament makes this one of the most successful seasons Watertown Baseball has had in a long time,” Neale boasted
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