RAPID CITY, S.D. — It was a ‘tale of two games’ at McKeague Field in Rapid City as the Scoopers dropped their first game to the Brookings Bobcats, 20-8, but then bounced back to beat the Rapid City Stevens Raiders, 15-3 in five innings.
The Scoopers jumped on Bobcat starting pitcher Jackson Krogman right away in the top of the first inning, scoring five runs on four hits. Sturgis pitcher Kelton Olson held Brookings scoreless through two innings and the Scoopers led 5-0 after two.
Krogman was replaced on the mound by Mason Bebensee in the second inning. The Bobcats scored four in the top of the third, but the Scoopers plated three of their own to lead 8-4 after three.
From that point on, it was all Brookings as the Bobcats pounded the ball all over the diamond, scoring 16 unanswered runs over the next four innings and holding the Scoopers scoreless to take a 20-8 win over Sturgis.
“It’s easy to point fingers at what happened in game one, but it all comes back to what we are trying to do this season, and that’s to focus for 21 outs,” said Scooper head coach Dominic Bradford. “We were five outs away from beating Brookings and we lost our energy and focus. It’s tough to beat a good team like Brookings. I was really happy with the way the boys played the first five innings, but we need to learn how to finish games.”
Bebensee got the win for the Bobcats, surrendering three runs on five hits over six innings. Bebensee struck out four and walked one. Ridge Inhofer took the loss for the Scoopers. Brookings tallied 19 hits for the game, with Cole Mahlum going 4-for-4 at the plate for the Bobcats. The Scoopers had nine hits in the contest.
Game two was a 180-degree turnaround for the Scoopers, as they took an early lead on Rapid City Stevens but kept their focus throughout the game. Sturgis scored six runs on two hits in the top of the first inning and three runs on four hits in the top of the third, as starting pitcher David Anderson held the Raiders scoreless through two innings. The Scoopers led 9-0 headed into the bottom half of the third.
Leadoff hitter Gavin Skinner pounded a double to start off the frame for the Raiders, then stole third base. Matt Moyes laid down a bunt in an attempt to bring home Skinner, but he was tagged out at home plate by Scooper catcher Owen Cass. Colton Nesland brought Moyes home with a double of his own, scoring Rapid City’s first run of the game. Sturgis led 9-1 after three innings.
The Scoopers scored five runs in the top half of the fourth behind singles by Kelton Olson, Dustin Alan and Ridge Inhofer. Jesse Riemenschneider scored a run for Stevens in the bottom of the fourth and Sturgis led 14-2 after four innings. Both teams scored a run in the fifth giving Sturgis a 15-3 win in five innings due to the 10-run mercy rule. Bradford challenged his team to persevere in game two.
“I challenged the boys not to quit on themselves,” Bradford said. “I promised my team I would never quit on them as long as they don’t quit on themselves. They came out on fire and kept the pressure on the whole game. If we can play with that level of focus and energy going forward we will be in good shape.”
Anderson got the win for the Scoopers (4-3), giving up two hits with seven strikeouts and seven walks. Connor Cruickshank got the save. Sturgis pounded out 11 hits, as Kaden Olson slapped two singles, scored two runs and drove in three. Kelton Olson, David Anderson, Kain Peters and R.J. Andrzejewski each had two hits for the Scoopers. The Sturgis defense was flawless, finishing the game with no errors.
Colton Nesland took the loss for the Raiders (2-8), who could only manage three hits, one each by Skinner, Nesland and Haiden Studer.
The Scoopers are in action next weekend, as they travel to Chamberlain to take on Sioux Falls Roosevelt and Brookings.
