RAPID CITY, S.D. – The Post 320 Stars took both games of a doubleheader from the Sturgis Post 33 Titans on Tuesday night at Pete Lien Field. The Stars edged Post 33 in game one, 11-10 and came back to beat Sturgis in game two, 6-5.
The Titans came out swinging in the top of the first in game one, tagging Post 320 starting pitcher Hayden Leighty with three straight hits, scoring one. Leighty then walked the next three Titan batters, walking in two runs and Sturgis led 3-0.
The Post 320 Stars were unfazed, scoring three of their own off Titan starter Sam Kooima to tie the game at three after one inning.
The Stars kept the pressure on, plating two more in the second inning and three in the third to lead Post 33 8-4 after three. Then Post 320’s bats went quiet when Titan lefty David Anderson took over on the mound in the fourth inning. Anderson held Rapid City scoreless as Sturgis scored two runs each in the fourth, fifth and top of the sixth innings to lead 10-8.
The Stars came out in the bottom of the sixth and scored three runs with two outs to take an 11-10 lead. Post 320 closer Brady Fallon shut down any chance of a Titan comeback in the top of the seventh and Post 320 held on for the victory.
Fallon got the win in game one for the Stars, striking out three and walking one over two innings. Post 320 had 11 hits and were led by Lane Darrow with three hits and three RBI.
Anderson took the loss for Post 33. Sturgis had 12 hits and 12 left on base. Ridge Inhofer went 4-for-5 with four singles, four runs scored and four stolen bases.
Game two was a much different contest as Titan pitcher Owen Cass took on Stars righty Jett Wetzler. Post 33 led 3-1 after three innings on hits by Ridge and Dawson Inhofer. Cass held Rapid City to just one hit through four innings.
The Stars tied things up at three in the bottom of the fifth on runs by Jace Wetzler and Gavyn Dansby. Sturgis scored two more in the top of the sixth as Ridge Inhofer smacked a double to left center to score Conner Cruickshank and Evan Stroud. Post 33 led 5-3 but the Stars weren’t done, plating two runs on three hits in the bottom of the sixth to tie the game at 5-5.
The Titans were held scoreless in the top of the seventh. Post 320 loaded the bases with two outs in the bottom half of the inning. Jace Wetzler completed the comeback, poking a single down the right field line to score Lane Darrow to get the win for the Stars.
Jett Wetzler threw a complete game for Post 320 to earn the win. Owen Cass took the loss for Sturgis. The Stars (16-8) had eight hits and four left on base. The Titans (3-10) pounded out 12 hits and left five on base.
The Titans host the Sturgis Baseball Rally this weekend at Strong Field. Games begin on Friday evening.
