STURGIS, SD — The Sturgis Scoopers hosted the Rapid City Stevens Raiders in their final two games of the regular season on Sunday, winning game one big and dropping a close one in game two.
The Sturgis offense was clicking in game one of the doubleheader, as the Scoopers pounded out 11 hits. Ridge Inhofer continued his torrid hitting pace, blasting a two-run HR to left in the first inning, then smacking singles to center field in the third and right field in the sixth. The Scoopers exploded for eight runs in the sixth to end game one by the 10-run mercy rule, 16-6.
Ridge Inhofer got the win for the Scoopers on the mound, giving up two runs while striking out five and walking two. Luke Jegeris took the loss for Stevens. The Raiders had eight hits and left six on base. Kade Walker had a single and a double for Stevens.
Game two looked good for the Scoopers on paper, as ace right hander Kain Peters faced off with Jesse Riemenschneider, who had only thrown seven innings of pitching all season for Stevens.
Peters wasn’t on his game from the start as he gave up eight hits and four runs, only lasting 3 1/3 innings. Riemenschneider got the best of Sturgis, as he held the Scoopers to just four hits and two runs over six innings of work to get the win. Raider closer Gavin Skinner shut down the Scoopers in the bottom of the seventh to secure the victory for Stevens, 4-2.
Rapid City Stevens (13-15) finished with eight hits, six left on base and no errors. Cooper Morlang and Kade Walker both had two hits for the Raiders, who wrap up their regular season against crosstown rival Rapid City Central on Wednesday.
Sturgis finishes their regular season with 12 wins and 13 losses and now wait for the final seed point rankings to find out who and where they will play their regional playoff matchup on May 21st.
