STURGIS, SD – The Stevens Raiders showed why they are one of the top high school baseball teams in South Dakota by taking two from the Sturgis Scoopers on Sunday, 8-0 in game one and 9-0 in the nightcap.
Starting pitcher Luke Hanzlik tossed a gem in game one, holding the Scoopers hitless until the bottom of the seventh inning when Jack Knutson poked a single past second baseman Will Waddell with two outs. Hanzlik struck out the next batter, Jeren Andrzejewski, to end the game.
Hanzlik threw 88 pitches, struck out six and walked one to earn the victory. Stevens finished with eight hits and left seven on base. Ian Beer went 2-for-4 and had two RBIs for the Raiders.
Yaden Miller took the loss for Sturgis in game one, striking out two and walking seven batters. Jack Knutson had the lone hit for the Scoopers.
In game two, Stevens jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first inning as Ethan Wilson, Jackson Dial and Paxton Fisher all scored for the Raiders. Stevens tacked on runs in the third, fourth, sixth and seventh innings to lead 9-0. The Scoopers struck out three times in the bottom of the seventh and fell to the Raiders, 9-0.
Will Waddell earned the win for Stevens (13-3), striking out nine and walking three while giving up just one hit. The Raiders had six hits and left nine on base.
Jack Knutson took the loss for Sturgis (5-8). The Scoopers had three hits with Bricon Herren, Kjell Sundstrom and Carter Williams each collecting a hit for Sturgis.
The Scoopers are in action next on Wednesday as they host the Gillette Riders at 5pm and 7pm, weather permitting.
