RAPID CITY, S.D. – John Fischer blasted a 380-foot home run and drove home five runs on five hits to lead the Sturgis Post 33 Titans to a 26-17 win over the Rapid City Post 320 Shooters on Sunday evening to win the Jim Scull Baseball Tournament with a 5-0 record.
The Titans rolled through the tourney with wins against the Rapid City Bullets, Rapid City Risers, Spearfish and Belle Fourche to reach the championship game. The Shooters came into the title tilt with a 3-1 record with wins over Cheyenne, Williston, Newcastle and a loss to the Post 320 under 16 squad.
Post 33 took a 3-0 lead after the top of the first inning behind doubles and runs from Thor Sundstrom, Zach Hess and David Anderson. Anderson took the mound in the bottom of the first and Post 320 lit up the left hander with three runs on two hits and two walks. Titans head coach Dominick Bradford brought in Colton Cruickshank with just one out in the first. Cruickshank gave up three more runs on three hits and the Shooters led 6-3 after the first inning.
The Titans added three runs in the second inning to tie the game at six. Post 320 added another run in the bottom of the inning to take a 7-6 lead.
Post 33 first baseman John Fischer led off the top of the third inning and was just getting started on a monster day at the plate. Fischer blasted a fastball from Post 320 pitcher Jett Wetzler over the right field fence for a 1-run home run to start off a big inning for the Titans. A few batters later, center fielder Ridge Inhofter drove in three runs with an inside the park home run to make the score 13-7. Sixteen Post 33 batters made plate appearances in the third inning and Sturgis exploded for 10 runs on 8 hits to lead the Shooters 16-7 headed into the bottom half of the inning.
Post 320 answered with five runs on five hits in the bottom of the third, led by singles from Ashton Dahl, Brian Roselles and Mason Melhaff, who all scored in the inning. The Titans led the Shooters 16-12 after three innings.
Sturgis added five more runs in the top of the fourth inning and Titan pitcher Dylan Gillespie shut down Post 320 in the bottom half of the fourth and held the Shooters scoreless. The Titans led 21-12 after four full innings.
The Titans scored five more runs in the top of the fifth with singles by Anderson and Fischer. Post 33 led 26-12 after 4 ½ innings. Post 320 had to score seven runs to extend the game past five innings due to the 8-run mercy rule. The Shooters hitters were patient and the Titan pitchers issued three straight walks. First baseman Haden Lieghty stroked a single to left field, bringing two runs across the plate. The next batter, center fielder Colton Mossier crushed an RBI double to left center, cutting the Titan lead to 26-15 with one out. The Shooters added two more runs before Titan pitcher Conner Cruickshank retired the side, sealing the 26-17 win for Sturgis Post 33.
The Titans finished the game with 20 hits and five runners left on base. Fischer had a great day at the plate, hitting five for five with five RBI on three singles, a double and a home run. Fischer also scored four runs. Ridge Inhofer added three hits and three runs on five at bats, with a single, double and an inside the park home run. Colton Cruickshank got the win for the Titans, with his brother Conner credited with the save.
The Shooters had 17 hits and had five left on base. Bryan Roselles was two for five at the plate for Post 320 and scored two runs. Mason Melhaff added two hits on four at bats with three runs scored. Pitcher Jett Wetzler took the loss for the Shooters.
Sturgis Post 33 is in action on Tuesday, June 16 as they travel to Winner to take on Sioux Falls West in a doubleheader.
