STURGIS, SD – It’s been a rough start to the spring varsity baseball season due to the weather, with postponements and cancellations galore. The Sturgis Scooper baseball team took advantage of favorable weather to earn their first win of the season in a doubleheader with Rapid City Central on Wednesday night at Strong Field.
The Cobblers fell behind early in the opener, as George Hamer pounded a one-out single up the middle, scoring Jake Peters to give Sturgis a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first. Central had three hits and three runs in the top of the third inning to take a 3-1 lead, an advantage that they never relinquished.
Sturgis made things interesting in the bottom of the seventh, plating four runs, but Central held on for the 12-7 victory.
Laken Uttecht earned the win for the Cobblers, giving up three hits and four strikeouts through three innings of work. Dylan Christianson took the loss for Sturgis.
Tyler Henstein and Steven Solano each collected three hits for Central in game one, with Henstein scoring three runs. Bricon Herren went 3-for-3 and scored a run for the Scoopers.
After a short break, the teams took the field for game two. Sturgis got on the board first, as Beau Peters singled and scored to give the Scoopers a 1-0 lead after one inning.
Sturgis extended their lead to 5-1 after five innings and looked to be in control of the game. The Cobblers had other ideas and scored two quick runs off relief pitcher Jack Knutson in the top of the seventh to cut into the Scooper lead. Knutson struck out Cayne Gregory with one on base to secure the 5-3 win.
Brody Royer got the win for Sturgis (1-2), striking out six and giving up just two hits. Knutson was credited with the save. Xander Heller and Dalyn Dschaak each had two hits for the Scoopers, who had eight hits and left nine on base.
Brian Atkinson took the loss for Rapid City Central, giving up three hits and striking out five. The Cobblers had five hits and left nine on base.
Sturgis is in action next on Friday night at McKeague Field in Rapid City as the Scoopers take on Rapid City Stevens. First pitch is scheduled for 7pm.
