STURGIS, SD — The Sturgis Scooper baseball team lost game one of a doubleheader with the Harrisburg Tigers in six innings, 13-3, but staged a seventh inning comeback in game two and beat the defending Class A state champions, 12–11.
Game one was tied at three runs apiece through three innings until the Tigers plated two runs in the fourth and six more in the fifth to to jump out to an 11-3 lead. The Scoopers could only manage three hits in the game and fell 13-3 in game one.
Harrisburg pounded out 15 hits in the win, with Noah Boschee leading the Tigers with two hits and two runs batted in. Beau Peters, Connor Cruikshank and Kaden Olson each had hits for Sturgis.
The Scoopers jumped out to a 7-0 lead after two innings in the second game, behind the arm of starting pitcher Dustin Alan, who had five strikeouts through three innings.
Harrisburg’s bats came alive midway through the game as the Tigers scored five runs in the fourth and two in the fifth to cut into the Scooper lead. Sturgis scored two in the bottom of the fourth and led 9-7 after five innings.
The Tigers plated four more runs in the top of the sixth and led 11-9. Scooper head coach Bryn Biancalana brought in pitcher Beau Peters in the top of the seventh and Peters threw nothing but strikes, shutting down the Tigers with two strikeouts and a weak ground ball, giving Sturgis a chance to come back in the bottom of the seventh.
Kaden Olson led off the bottom of the seventh and made contact, forcing the Tiger defense to make a play. Third baseman Tate Kogel’s throw was high and Olson was safe at first. Harrisburg’s defense faltered again, as Ridge Inhofer hit a ground ball to the shortstop, then scooted to third after an errant throw to first, scoring Olson. Beau Peters singled in the next at bat, scoring Inhofer to tie the game at 11.
Hunter Janzen struck out and Peters advanced to second base on a bad pitch to put the winning run in scoring position. Tiger pitcher Daniel Klein walked Owen Cass, then threw another wild pitch, advancing Peters to third and Cass to second with just one out. The Tiger infield moved in, hoping to prevent Peters from scoring on a ground ball.
The next batter, Kain Peters, cracked a sharp hit to third baseman Tate Kogel, who mishandled the ball, allowing Peters to cross home plate, giving the Scoopers a 12-11 comeback victory.
Srurgis (2-1) had nine hits and left seven on base in game two, led by Beau Peters who had one hit, three RBIs and scored three runs. Harrisburg (3-1) had eight hits and left seven on base.
Sturgis is in action again Saturday evening as they host the Huron Tigers at Strong Field. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30pm.
