Aberdeen does the little things right in shoutout victory over Black Hills

Published 1:30 am Saturday, March 28, 2026

ABERDEEN–If the standard of a good baseball team is doing the little things right and taking advantage of your opponents’ mistakes, then this year’s version of the Aberdeen Bobcats is a good baseball team.

Exhibit A was Aberden systematically dismantling the Black Hills Wolves 10-0 in five innings on Friday at Ken Waite Field in Aberdeen.

Despite finishing the game with just six base hits, the Bobcats played high-IQ baseball by taking the extra base, exhibiting patience at the plate and finding a multitude of ways to get on base.

“We’ve kind of taken our lumps and had stretches where we don’t have an approach. We’re not young anymore and can’t ride that excuse any longer,” Aberdeen head coach Layne Bruner said. “They’re starting to get more mature and wait for their pitch. They’re going to have tough at-bats and battle and that’s the brand of baseball we want to play.”

Aberdeen scored a run in the bottom of the first when center fielder Aidan Baker raced home on a passed ball and took a 4-0 lead with three runs in the bottom of the third, one on an RBI groundout by pitcher Gabe Matthews followed by a two-run double from designated hitter Isaiah McCarty.

Leading 5-0 in the bottom of the fifth, the Bobcats scored on a Baker fielder’s choice ground out followed by three two-out runs on two straight RBI singes from catcher Sam Schreiber and Matthews followed by a bases loaded walk to second baseman Mason Hill.

With Donavan Hedgpeth representing the game-winning, mercy-rule run at third base, Bruner told the speedy outfielder to be ready to go.

“The first thing he says is, ‘Read a ball and read it well,’” Hedgpeth said of his coach’s instruction. “He threw that spinner in the ground and it was immediate, he told me ‘Go’ and I just left.”

“(Strauss) was up with his fastball and kind of burying his curveball and we have to save arms for next week,” Bruner said of the game-ending play. “We’ve been trying to get aggressive on the basepaths and we have a stolen-base goal that we want to meet and these guys have bought into that.”

Wolves pitcher Asher Strauss’ first pitch was in the dirt and skipped away from catcher Brody Rice and into the grass approximately six feet down the first-base line.

Hearing his head coach say ‘Go’ the moment the ball hit the dirt, Hedgpeth stole home, sliding in safe to end the game via 10-0 mercy rule.

“I know we needed it. Two outs, it didn’t matter anyway. I was just going to try to score and win the game,” Hedgpeth said. “If I’m being honest, I didn’t actually know we won on that. I was just thinking to score the run right there and get another run on the board.”

Aberdeen had six hits in the game, drew seven walks and had six batters get hit by a pitch, twice for shortstop Bubba Jones.

The Bobcats were smart and aggressive on the basepaths, swiping 12 bags as a team, lead by Baker (4) and Hedgpeth (3).

“We really prioritize small ball and putting pressure on teams. Whenever we get on base, if we’ve got a guy that can run, pretty much off the rip we’re stealing,” Hedgpeth said. “A lot of our team has a really good feel for the strike zone and we’ve been really good about stretching out at-bats so far this year.”

“I think we just played really aggressive on the basepaths today,” Matthews said. “We did what we could when we got on base and used the most of our opportunities to score.”

On the bump, Matthews allowed three hits and three walks with seven strikeouts in 4 2-3 innings pitched to earn the win.

“I think my off-speed was working really well and they just couldn’t get a hold of it,” Matthews said. “And the good defense behind me, it’s a good combo.”

He gave way to reliever Land’n Purdy, who struck out the only batter he faced with the bases loaded to end the top of the fifth.

Aberdeen plays at Shelton in a 2A Evergreen Conference game at 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday in Shelton.

Black Hills 000 00 – 0 3 2

Aberdeen 103 15 – 10 6 0

WP: Matthews (4.2 IP, 0R, 3H, 3BB, 7K). LP: Simpson (3 IP, 4R, ER, 4H, 3BB, 3K).

Leading hitters: Black Hills – Brannin (2-2); Parkinson (1-2). Aberdeen – Jones (1-2, 2B, 2R); Schreiber (1-4, R, 2SB); Matthews (1-2, R, 2RBI, 2SB); Hedgpeth (1-2, 2R, 3SB); Fretts (1-2, SB); McCarty (1-3, 2B, 2RBI); Baker (0-2, 2R, RBI, 2BB, 4SB); Hill (0-1, R, 2BB).