Baseball Diamond Report for April 16: FCM opens season at 6-0 behind balanced offense, defense

Apr. 16—FREEMAN, S.D. — Freeman/Canistota/Marion couldn't have scripted a much better start to the 2026 high school baseball season.

Through six games, the team sits at a perfect 6-0, fueled by a relentless offense and a pitching staff that has consistently limited damage. In those six contests, Freeman/Canistota/Marion has outscored its opponents 71-18, averaging 11.8 runs per game while allowing just three runs per outing.

Its latest victory came Wednesday, April 15 in Corsica, where FCM rolled past Mount Vernon/Plankinton/Corsica-Stickney 11-1 in six innings via run rule. The game was competitive early on before FCM broke it open with a seven-run surge in the top of the sixth inning to seal the win.

At the plate, Freeman/Canistota/Marion's Easton Tschetter led the way with three hits and an RBI, while Easton Miller went 2-for-3 and drove in three runs. Oliver Waltner contributed both on the mound and at the plate, earning the pitching victory after three innings of work in which he allowed three hits and one earned run. Waltner also added two hits offensively. Riley Gall was dominant in relief for Waltner, tossing three hitless innings with four strikeouts, and helped his own cause by going 2-for-2 at the plate. Alaric Knittel chipped in with two RBIs to round out a balanced offensive attack for FCM.

For Freeman/Canistota/Marion, the season opened March 29 with a solid 5-2 win over Tri-County (a co-op involving Irene-Wakonda, Gayville-Volin and Viborg-Hurley), followed by a shutout performance in a 10-0 victory against Scotland/Menno on March 30. After a brief break, the offense erupted for a 14-10 extra-inning win over Parkston on April 8, and followed that with an 11-5 victory over Wagner/Avon/Lake Andes on April 9 before delivering their most lopsided performance yet — a 20-0 dismantling of Parker on April 12.

As a team, Freeman/Canistota/Marion is hitting an impressive .395 with a .516 on-base percentage. Gall has been scorching, leading the team with a .667 batting average (10-for-15) and a .737 OBP, along with four doubles and five RBIs. Knittel is batting .500 (11-for-22) and leads the team with 11 RBIs, while Easton Tschetter is also hitting .500 (12-for-24) with 10 runs scored and five doubles. Waltner is hitting .450 and has the team's lone home run, while Miller (.412) and Riley Tschetter (.400) have each driven in seven runs.

On the mound, the team has been just as effective. Riley Tschetter leads the squad with eight innings pitched, posting a 1-0 record with 21 strikeouts and has allowed only five earned runs. Easton Tschetter has yet to allow an earned run across six innings pitched while striking out 14 batters so far. Gall and Tayden Kerrigan have each added eight strikeouts, giving the staff some key depth.

Freeman/Canistota/Marion is set to play Bon Homme (3-1) next on April 22 in Tyndall, before traveling to Wagner on April 26 to play a split doubleheader against Wagner/Avon/Lake Andes and Dakota Valley.

A look at the top baseball performers from around the Mitchell region, through games played April 15.