WATERTOWN — It couldn’t have been easy for Kaden Rylance to follow in the footsteps of one of the greatest all-around athletes in Watertown High School history — his father Heath.

But the younger Rylance has already made his mark and could put a big exclamation point on his own stellar athletic career this week when Watertown Post 17 hosts the 2025 South Dakota State Class A American Legion Baseball Tournament at Watertown Stadium.

Rylance is the ace pitcher, and also pretty-noted hitter, for a Post 17 team that is hosting the state tourney for the first time in 34 seasons and hopes to challenge for the program’s first state title in 94 years.

“I think there’s been some pressure for us going all the way back to the high school season when we were ranked No. 1 in the preseason poll,” Kaden Rylance said. “That threw the team for a little swirl but we worked through that during the high school and now the Legion season. Obviously there’s some pressure, but you couldn’t ask for a better opportunity to play at home and have a good shot at winning.”

The state Legion tourney will be the final high school level athletic event for Rylance, who also was a standout golfer for WHS, played some basketball through the middle school years and even had his share of success for the Watertown Area Swim Club as a youngster. He committed in 2024 to play baseball for the South Dakota State University.

Some good family bloodlines

Heath Rylance was in the eighth grade when Ray and Roberta Rylance moved their family to Watertown. His father was a such a talented catcher that he later became the first University of South Dakota baseball player to be inducted into the Coyote Hall of Fame.

Sure, Heath’s athletic accomplishments may have cast a big shadow for Kaden, but there’s definitely some rich athletic tradition in the Rylance family.For the Arrows, Rylance was a three-year starter at quarterback who earned Class 11AA all-state honors a senior in 1989. In basketball, he earned Class 11AA all-state second team honors in 1990 and also starred three years for Watertown Post 17, earning all-state honors in both 1989 and 1990.”I caught a lot, played some outfield and a little third base,” Heath Rylance said.Heath Rylance, a 1990 WHS graduate, batted .433 in his Post 17 career, including .482 as a senior and added 41 doubles, 14 homers, 79 stolen bases and 131 runs batted in over the three-year span. He drew the attention of college baseball coaches, even receiving a partial scholarship offer from the University of Illinois.Back then, scholarship money for college baseball players (in South Dakota for sure) wasn’t great and Rylance chose Augustana College (Division II) because it had agreed to allow him to play both football and baseball. After playing on the diamond his freshman year, he tore a ligament in his thumb as a sophomore and when a new football coaching staff arrived prior to his junior season with the Vikings, he had to turn his focus to football.”Football was the full ride and that was important,” he said. “It’s true that baseball was my favorite sport. Football kind of took over with the success we had and baseball took a back seat.”Rylance earned All-North Central Conference honors four years (1991-94, twice first team and twice second team) and even was named the NCC’s Most Valuable Offensive Player in 1994 before spending five years a signal-caller for Saskatchewan Roughriders and Calgary Stampede in the Canadian Football League.He was inducted into the Watertown High School Athletic Hall of Fame in 2002, Augustana College Hall of Fame in 2007 and the Watertown Baseball Hall of Fame in 2022.More family athletic history will follow.A somewhat different athletic pathAfter his CFL days ended, Rylance moved back to Watertown and helped establish a financial consulting business.For years, Watertown fans have had discussions about why the son (Kaden) of one of the greatest Arrow football players didn’t compete in the sport.At a young age, Kaden took to golf and also spent his time swimming and playing baseball. He did play basketball through his freshman year before his two favorite sports (golf and baseball) took over. His football career consisted of some flag-football games in elementary school.”People ask me how I felt about Kaden not playing football, but it was never difficult. Really, he was extremely passionate about golf as a very young age. I could see very clearly where his passions were and I just wanted to support what he wanted,” Heath Rylance said. “Baseball just continued to evolve and become more important later.”Since the Class AA high school boys golf and football seasons each run in the fall in South Dakota, golf was the sport he continued to play. He had five top-10 finishes in state tournaments (including a second-place finish as an eighth-grader in 2020 and a third-place finish in 2023 as a junior) and helped lead the Arrows to back-to-back state golf titles in 2023 and 2024 (Watertown’s first title since 1971).Success has also came on the baseball diamond, where his Reliabank Rattlers baseball 8-and-under and 12-and-under teams won state titles in 2015 and 2019.Fellow Post 17 seniors Nash Berg and Talan Jurgens (Dakota State), Mitch Olson (University of Sioux Falls), Treyton Himmerich and Hayden Ries (Mount Marty), Nathan Briggs (Wayne NE State) and Max Dylla have been together on the same team since 2020 and have produced a run that included South Dakota Class A Baseball state titles in 2020 (13U, Grey Sox) and 2021 (14U, Black Sox), a trip to the semifinals of the state Class A Junior Legion tournament in 2022 and a third-place finish in the state Class A Legion tournament last summer.20 FAVORITES: Links to the stories highlighting the best northeastern South Dakota athletes since 1984

Kaden’s always been a middle-of-the-order hitter with some pop, much like his father, but it’s his prowess on the pitcher’s mound that has fueled his baseball opportunities.

He announced his choice to compete for South Dakota State in February of 2024.

South Dakota had a number of Class A pitchers during the spring high school season who have signed to pitch for Division I teams and a few of those, including Rylance and Harrisburg’s Eli Kokenge (University of Minnesota), will hit the mound this week in Watertown.

“I was a thrower but not a pitcher,” Heath Rylance said. “He’s (Kaden’s) a very different athlete and baseball player, especially on the mound. That’s a skill set I never had. We both throw hard but he has an analytical mind that has really set up with his pitching.”What’s ahead for the future JackrabbitKaden Rylance said from the time he stepped on campus that he was going to South Dakota State, where his cousin Zach Heins (son of Heath’s older sister Jodi) was a standout tight end in the early 2020s before signing last summer as an undrafted free agent with the National Football League’s San Diego Chargers. Lincoln Semchenko, another cousin and son of Heath’s younger sister Dayna, will be a freshman offensive lineman this fall for the Jacks. Heins starred at Sioux Falls Washington and Semchenko at Sioux Falls Christian.Kaden Rylance certainly can hold his own with any pitcher in the state tourney. So far this spring and summer, he has thrown 81 1/3 innings, allowed only 44 hits, walked 37 and fanned 139 while compiling an 8-2 record with a 1.29 earned-run average.GIMME 5 or 10 LINKS: Roger Merriam’s look at the top athletes for all area high schools since December of 1984

“From a coaching perspective, he’s a once-in-a-lifetime guy especially here in Watertown where we don’t see many Division I pitchers,” Post 17 coach Ryan Neale said. “He’s not only one of the best players but also the hardest worker and that sets the tone for the rest of team.”

Rylance’s announcement to join the Jackrabbits listed him as a potential catcher and pitcher for the Jacks, but both father and son know that it won’t be a shock if he never leaves the mound.

His repertoire includes a four-seem fastball that has been clocked as high as 93 miles-per-hour. There’s also a slider, curveball, splitter and another new pitch.

“I added a sinker about halfway through the year and that’s really been helping me a lot,” Rylance said.

Heath Rylance and his wife Anne (1994 WHS graduate Anne McAtee) married in 2000. Heath had a daughter Amanda Rylance Bednar, who is now 31 and lives in Lexington, KY). Heath and Anne have raised daughter Jennika (now heading into her fourth year at SDSU), Kaden and younger brother Nikolas, who will be a seventh-grader this fall at the Watertown Middle School. He plays football, basketball and baseball like his father.

“I’d say baseball is now my favorite sport but for awhile it was pretty much 50-50 between baseball and golf,” Kaden said. “I still like golf a lot, but I really started to like baseball more after all the success I had in my sophomore and junior years.”

Rylance was expected to start Post 17’s state-tournament opener against Pierre on Tuesday, July 28, and could potentially pitch again come Saturday, Aug. 2, which could mean a shot at a state championship. If that indeed happens, Post 17 certainly wouldn’t mind its chances.

Follow Watertown Public Opinion sports reporter Roger Merriam on X (formerly known as Twitter) @PO_Sports or email: rmerriam@thepublicopinion.com

The University of New Mexico is making waves across the board this summer — from national academic honors on the baseball diamond to bold new fan initiatives and a freshly released volleyball schedule packed with marquee matchups. With a renewed focus on community engagement, student-athlete excellence, and growing the Lobo brand, UNM Athletics is laying the groundwork for a high-energy 2025 season across all sports.

Academic Excellence on the Diamond: UNM Baseball Honored by ABCA

In a testament to their dedication both on and off the field, the University of New Mexico baseball team has been recognized with the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) Team Academic Excellence Award for the 2024–25 academic year. The honor, announced Wednesday, celebrates programs across high school and college baseball that achieved a cumulative team GPA of 3.0 or higher — a standard the Lobos soared past with a 3.51.

UNM is one of more than 750 programs nationwide to earn the distinction, which is presented in partnership with Sports Attack. The recognition marks the fourth consecutive year that the Lobos have earned the award, further solidifying their reputation as a program that values academic achievement as much as athletic performance.

Head coach Tod Brown continues to set a high standard in the classroom, having guided the team to 25 semesters of a 3.0 GPA or better over the last 26 grading periods. Each of the program’s five best semester GPA marks has come under Brown’s leadership.

The Lobos also put together a successful season on the field, finishing 30–23 and reaching the Mountain West Tournament for the second year in a row — a reflection of the program’s strong all-around culture.

UNM Athletics Opens the Gates: Free Admission Initiative for Key Sports

UNM Athletics is lowering the barrier to entry — literally.

In a move aimed at enhancing fan experience and deepening ties to the community, the department announced a new initiative to offer free admission to all home events for women’s soccer, softball, baseball, and outdoor track & field starting with the 2025–26 season.

These sports now join others — including swimming & diving, men’s and women’s tennis, and golf — as non-ticketed events. The announcement reflects a strategic fan-focused shift led by Vice President/Director of Athletics Fernando Lovo.

“Engaging our community in all aspects of Lobo Athletics is one of our highest priorities,” Lovo said. “By offering complimentary admission to several of our Olympic sports, we’re making a strategic decision in access, energy, and community pride.”

This initiative is not just about increasing attendance but about fostering stronger connections across the state — inviting more families, students, and aspiring athletes to experience Division I competition in their backyard.

Ticketed events, such as volleyball and indoor track meets at the Albuquerque Convention Center, will continue as paid admission events. In response to questions from fans, UNM has clarified that the Lobo Pride Pass — which previously granted access to Olympic sports — will be discontinued for these now-free events. Volleyball season tickets will be available separately for the first time ever, offering a new way for fans to support the program while enjoying savings across a full home schedule.

Fans looking to further support Lobo Athletics are encouraged to contribute to the Lobo Club, the Lobo Alliance, or sport-specific funds — with ticket purchases for football, men’s basketball, and women’s basketball still playing a vital role in supporting student-athletes across the department.

Volleyball Ready to Roll: 2025 Season Features 14 Home Matches, NMSU Rivalry, and New MW Opponent

Lobo Volleyball fans won’t have to wait long for the action to start in 2025.

UNM has released its full 2025 volleyball schedule, featuring 14 home matches and several exciting highlights, including the return of in-state rival New Mexico State and the Mountain West debut of new conference member Grand Canyon University.

The season begins Aug. 23 with a home exhibition against D-II New Mexico Highlands, followed by the annual Lobo Invitational (Aug. 29–30), featuring Manhattan, Northern Arizona, and Houston Christian. The Lobos, who have averaged over 800 fans per match for three straight seasons, will look to continue that strong home support at the Johnson Center.

A pair of road tournaments follow — one hosted by Tarleton State (Sept. 4–6) and another in Riverside, Calif., hosted by Cal Baptist (Sept. 11–13) — before the team dives into the 18-match Mountain West schedule.

Conference play kicks off at home with a four-match stretch against Utah State, Boise State, Colorado State, and Wyoming between Sept. 25 and Oct. 4. UNM’s first conference road test comes Oct. 9 at San Diego State, followed by matchups at Grand Canyon (Oct. 11) and UNLV (Oct. 16).

The Lobos will also host Grand Canyon (Oct. 18), Nevada (Oct. 30), Air Force (Nov. 1), UNLV (Nov. 6), and San Diego State (Nov. 8) in a critical late-season stretch that includes Senior Day against the Aztecs.

UNM closes the regular season with a tough road slate at Nevada, Air Force, Wyoming, and Colorado State. If the Lobos qualify, they’ll head to Las Vegas for the 2024 Mountain West Volleyball Championship (Nov. 26–29), hosted at Cox Pavilion on the UNLV campus.

After a rocky start in 2024 that saw the Lobos lose seven straight, they finished strong by winning four of their final six. Despite missing the MW tournament last fall, the team led the conference in digs per set (15.77) and ranked second in blocks per set (2.53) — two promising metrics as they aim to return to postseason play in 2025.

By BERNIE WILSON, Associated Press

SAN DIEGO — SAN DIEGO (AP) — Manny Machado hit a three-run homer during a five-run seventh inning and the San Diego Padres won 7-1 on Tuesday night against the NL East-leading New York Mets, who watched slugger Juan Soto leave the game after fouling a ball off his left foot in the fourth.

The Mets announced that Soto has a bruised foot. He was in considerable pain as he was checked by a trainer. He took a few swings and finished his at-bat, grounding out as second baseman Jake Cronenworth made a diving stop.

New York got just four hits in losing its second straight to the Padres following a seven-game winning streak.

Machado greeted reliever Chris Devenski by hitting his 20th homer of the season off the facade of the second deck in left field with two outs in the seventh.

Elías Díaz hit a two-run double with one out in the seventh, off José Buttó (3-2).

Jackson Merrill broke a 1-all tie in the sixth when he hit a chopper off Buttó that bounced over the head of first baseman Pete Alonso and rolled into the right-field corner for an RBI triple. Luis Arraez, aboard on a single, scored easily.

Merrill also had a run-scoring single off starter Sean Manaea in the first.

New York tied it in the fifth on pinch-hitter Starling Marte’s bases-loaded sacrifice fly.

Manaea, who pitched for the Padres in 2022, allowed one run and three hits in five innings, with four strikeouts and no walks.

Padres rookie Ryan Bergert loaded the bases with no outs in the fifth and made way for Jeremiah Estrada. He struck out Francisco Lindor and then allowed Marte’s sac fly before retiring slugger Pete Alonso.

Wandy Peralta (5-1) pitched a scoreless inning for the win.

Machado’s homer put a charge into the sellout crowd of 45,088.

Machado joined five other active big leaguers who have at least 10 seasons of 20 homers.

Mets RHP Clay Holmes (9-5, 3.40 ERA) and Padres RHP Yu Darvish (0-3, 9.18) are scheduled to start Wednesday’s series finale.

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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB

The mayor said that possible developments include a Bucc-ees, a new STEM center and an indoor water park.

News Release

Beginning this school year, soccer head coaches may be warned, cautioned or ejected for misconduct committed by bench personnel in the team area. The increased responsibility of head coaches for team conduct highlights the 2025-26 high school soccer rules changes.

In all, six rules changes were recommended by the NFHS Soccer Rules Committee at its February 10-12 meeting in Indianapolis. All rules changes were reviewed and approved by the NFHS Board of Directors.

Rule 12-4-4 was amended to support positive bench decorum and reinforce the head coach’s responsibility for the conduct of their team and bench personnel within the team area. The new language allows officials to take action against the coach in addition to any cautions or ejections issued to the sanctioned offender.

“The 2025-26 rules changes emphasize accountability and sportsmanship, reinforcing the head coach’s responsibility for team conduct,” said Gibby Reynolds, chair of the Soccer Rules Committee and an administrator with the Oregon School Activities Association. “Head coaches have a high degree of responsibility for their team areas and bench behavior and are to be held accountable now that officials are allowed to warn, caution or eject head coaches for misconduct committed by bench personnel. This change promotes a culture of respect and positive behavior on the sidelines. These updates, along with the other approved changes, continue our commitment to improving the high school soccer experience for players, coaches and officials.”

The committee also addressed behavior toward officials aiming to reduce unnecessary confrontations. Rule 7-2-4 was added and stipulates that no coach, player, substitute or other team personnel other than the team captain can approach or speak to officials during the interval between periods, unless beckoned by the official. This action will now result in a yellow card to the offending individual.

A change to Rule 3-3-2 clarifies that if an official beckons a coach or appropriate health-care provider for an injured player – including the goalkeeper – that player must leave the field regardless of the reason the clock is stopped.

Teams will now be allowed to substitute when a game is temporarily suspended thanks to a change to Rule 3-3-2. Often games are paused for water breaks in hot weather. Teams will now be permitted to make substitutions during these stoppages.

Rule 4-1-2 was edited to clarify that the number required on the front of the uniform may be on the jersey and/or the shorts.

Finally, Rule 18, which listed definitions, has been eliminated from the NFHS Soccer Rules Book. All relevant definitions were relocated to their corresponding rules, and redundant or outdated terms were removed. In addition, the index was expanded to better serve as a reference tool.

“Over the past few years, the rules committee has been committed to streamlining the rules book for greater clarity and ease of use” said Julie Cochran, NFHS Director of Sports and liaison to the Soccer Rules Committee. “By integrating Rule 18’s terms and definitions directly into their corresponding rule sections, we continue this effort – eliminating redundancy, resolving potential conflicts and ensuring consistency. The result is a more intuitive and efficient resource for all users.”

A complete listing of the soccer rules changes will be available on the NFHS website at www.nfhs.org. Click on “Activities & Sports” at the top of the home page and select “Soccer.” The print version of the 2025-26 Soccer Rules Book will be available for purchase in late May at www.NFHS.com, and the digital version will be available in May via NFHS Digital at www.NFHS.org.

According to the most recent NFHS High School Athletics Participation Survey, soccer is the fifth-most popular sport for boys with 467,483 participants in 12,754 schools nationwide. For girls, it ranks third with 383,895 participants at 12,307 schools.