STURGIS, S.D. – Yankee legend Yogi Berra once said, “you can observe a lot just by watching”. Sturgis Post 33 fans agreed, as they watched their legion baseball team catch fire in the second inning when the Titans exploded with 12 runs on 11 hits to put Spearfish Post 164 away early Thursday night at Strong Field.
The Titans picked up a convincing 14-1 win over Spearfish in the opening game of the Sturgis Baseball Rally Tournament. Head Coach Dominic Bradford had a simple strategy for his team.
“We’ve been playing tight lately,” Bradford said. “I told the boys to just go out and have some fun.”
Bradford had the Titans working on fundamentals for two hours prior to the game Thursday night at Strong Field. Post 33 has been plagued by dropped fly balls in the past few games. Errors cost the Titans a couple of games against Sioux Falls West on Tuesday in Winner. Bradford said his team had great chances to win both games but fumbled grounders and dropped fly balls allowing Sioux Falls to edge the Titans in both contests, 20-15 and 10-9.
The pre-game practice paid off for Sturgis as they came out in the first inning looking sharp with three consecutive singles by Zach Hess, Dylan Gillespie and David Anderson. The Titans led 1-0 after the first inning.
Spearfish added a run by Brady Hartwig on a wild pitch by Sturgis hurler John Fischer to tie the game at 1-1 after the top of the second.
Titan right fielder Colton Cruickshank got things started for Sturgis, leading off in the bottom of the second with a triple. Gage Murphy then cracked a single to score Cruickshank and the flood gates opened for Post 33. Eighteen batters made plate appearances for Sturgis in the bottom of the second and the Titans didn’t look back, scoring 12 runs to take a 13-1 lead.
Hess took off his catching gear to take the mound in the top of the third inning and shut down Post 164. Hess only allowed one hit on 30 pitches, walking one and striking out two. Murphy scored an insurance run in the bottom of the third and the Titans ended the game early after holding Spearfish scoreless in the top of the fourth. The game ended by the mercy rule since the Titans led by 12 or more runs after four innings. Fischer got the win on the mound for Sturgis with Hess getting the save. Pitcher Alec Sundsted took the loss for Spearfish.
Post 33 pounded out 15 hits on the night, leaving 7 on base. Hess was 3-4 at the plate, scoring two runs with two singles and a triple. Dylan Gillespie was 2-3, scoring one run on two singles with one RBI. Dustin Alan was the Sturgis Subs Player of the Game, going 3-3 at the plate, scoring two runs on two singles and an inside the park home run. Alan added two runs batted in.
Spearfish Post 164 had four hits and left six on base. Spearfish was led by Brady Hartwig, who scored one run and was 2-2 with two singles.
The Sturgis Baseball Rally continues on Friday evening at Strong Field with Billings taking on Belle Fourche at 6pm. Sturgis Post 33, 13-4 on the season, is in action Friday night at 8pm as the Titans take on the Cheyenne Coyotes 18 under squad. Post 33 action will be live on KBHBRadio.com and at 810am with Gary and Terry.
