2026 South Dakota High School Team Preview: Watertown

March 5, 2026
Dayne McNaughton
Upper Midwest, Prep Baseball

The 2026 high school baseball season is quickly approaching and as usual, excitement is present throughout South Dakota. Players and coaches have been working in preparation for the upcoming season and, as is the case each year, there are some very talented players and teams across South Dakota.

Teams across the state have goals and aspirations to finish their seasons in Sioux Falls or Brooking at the SDHSBA Class A and B State championship games, but there is plenty of work to be done before that becomes reality. We hope to shine a spotlight on all teams across the state as we preview individual teams across South Dakota.

Please keep checking back throughout the season as we will be your one-stop shop for everything related to high school baseball across the state.

Each week we will be releasing our Diamond Notes, covering all the bases across the state of South Dakota.

Watertown: TEAM PREVIEW

High School: Watertown
Head Coach: Ryan Neale
Class: Class A
2025 Record (Finish): 11-12 (State Tournament 1st RD)

TOP RETURNING PLAYERS

+ Markus Pitkin - North Iowa Area CC commit

+ Johnathan Lake

+ Carter Buisker

+ Cole Hansen

+ Cain Everson

+ Jackson McClemans - Southwest Minnesota State commit

+ Ashton Rabine

ALUMNI IN COLLEGE

+ Kaden Rylance - South Dakota State

+ Treyton Himmerich - Mount Marty

+ Hayden Ries - Mount Marty

+ Talan Jurgans - Dakota State

+ Nathan Briggs - Wayne State College

+ Mitch Olson - University of Sioux Falls

TEAM OUTLOOK

“We lost a lot of regulars from last year's team including our whole INF and top 2 pitchers. We will be an old team with lots of inexperience at the varsity level. However we do return a few key pieces that have plenty of varsity experience including a couple of college commitments. ” – Ryan Neale, head coach

Find more information on the 2026 Watertown program below:

+ Follow them on X: @post17baseball
+ Visit the Prep Baseball Dakotas, 2026 HS Team Previews

FOLLOW PREP BASEBALL DAKOTAS THROUGHOUT THE SPRING

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