STURGIS, SD — The Sturgis Scooper baseball team celebrated Senior Night at Strong Field on Tuesday by beating the Douglas Patriots in both games of a doubleheader, 12-0 in game one and 19-0 in game two. Both games ended after five innings due to the mercy rule.
The Scooper faithful honored seniors Owen Cass, Hayden Heckenliable, Reece Jacobs, Evan Stroud, Connor Cruikshank, Kain Peters and Hunter Janzen on the field between games.
In game one, Sturgis fireballer Kain Peters was one out away from a perfect game in the bottom of the fifth, when Landon Berkey hit a slow roller past Peters. The Scooper infield couldn’t make a play, allowing Berkey to make it to first base on an error. Kain was pulled and his brother Jake Peters struck out the last batter, and the Scoopers ended up with a combined no-hitter, downing Douglas 12-0.
Kain Peters earned the win for Sturgis, going four and two-thirds innings, allowing zero runs on zero hits, striking out eight and walking zero. Jake Peters threw one-third of an inning in relief out of the bullpen.
Nate Johnson took the loss for the Patriots. The hurler lasted one inning, allowing two hits and one run while walking zero.
Sturgis pounded out 11 hits in the game and left six on base. Dylan Christenson, Owen Cass, Kain Peters, and Bricon Herren each racked up two hits for Sturgis.
In game two, three Scooper pitchers combined to throw a shut out, blanking the Patriots 19–0.
Beau Peters was the winning pitcher for Sturgis. The righthander went three innings, allowing zero runs on one hit and striking out five. Dylan Christenson and Connor Cruickshank entered the game out of the bullpen and helped to close out the game in relief.
Riggin Kasuske took the loss for Douglas. The pitcher went one inning, allowing seven runs on seven hits.
Sturgis had 15 hits in game two and were led by Yaden Miller, who had three hits in three at bats. The Scoopers didn’t commit a single error in the nightcap.
Sturgis finishes the regular season with 11 wins and seven losses and are seeded #7 in Class A. The Scoopers travel to Yankton on Saturday for the Region 2 playoffs, where they will play the #10 Sioux Falls Jefferson Cavaliers in round one. First pitch is scheduled for 1:30pm Mountain time.
