RAPID CITY, S.D. – Sturgis Post 33 had some fresh faces on the roster Friday night at McKeague Field in Rapid City as the Titans outlasted the Post 320 Risers, 16-10 at the Jim Scull Invitational Baseball Tournament.
Pitcher Dawson Inhofer started on the mound for Post 33. The Titans jumped out to a 6-0 lead after the first two innings behind a two-RBI double by RJ Andrejewski in the top of the second inning. Post 320 pitcher Dylan Stader was replaced by Jack Ammerman after he gave up six runs on five hits in two innings. Post 33 added another run in the top of the fourth inning as Slade Heller crossed home plate on a throwing error by the Risers. Sturgis led 7-0 going into the bottom of the fourth.
Then the bats came alive for Post 320. 13 Risers made plate appearances in the bottom of the fourth inning, including singles by Tyson Ness, Avell Lopez, Caden Benke and Koltin Darrow and a double by Ben Dressler. The Titans also committed several throwing errors, resulting in an 8-run inning for the Risers, giving them an 8-7 lead.
Titans head coach Dominick Bradford brought pitcher Dustin Alan in the game with two outs in the fourth inning after quick outings by Jack Knutson and Hunter Janzin. Alan settled things down for Post 33, throwing 66 pitches in the final 3 1/3 innings, giving up only five hits and 1 run.
Post 33 answered the Risers offensive onslaught in the top of the fifth inning, with six runs on six hits. Alan and Thor Sundstrom had singles, Antonio Serano cracked a 3-RBI double and Ridge Inhofer pounded a one-run triple in the fifth to give the Titans a commanding 13-8 lead after five innings.
Pitcher Dustin Alan did the rest, allowing only two runs from Post 320 over the last three innings. The Titans added three more runs and won the slugfest, 16-10. Thor Sundstrom was 3-4 at the plate with three singles and two RBI. Ridge Inhofer was 2-2 with a triple and an RBI and Antonio Serano had one double and three RBI. Post 33 pounded out 16 hits and left 8 on base.
Avell Lopez was 3-5 at the dish for the Risers, with three singles and two RBI. Post 320 finished with 13 hits and 9 left on base.
Dustin Alan got the win for the Titans and Jack Ammerman took the loss for the Risers. Ammerman threw 70 pitches over 4 2/3 innings, giving up 10 runs on 10 hits with one strikeout and one walk. The win improves the Titans to 9-2 on the season. The Jim Scull Invitational features 11 teams from across South Dakota, North Dakota and Wyoming. The Titans are back in action on Saturday at 12:30pm against Spearfish Post 164 and at 2:30pm versus Belle Fourche.
