STURGIS, SD – The Sturgis Post 33 Titan baseball squad hosted two different teams in a doubleheader on Tuesday night at Strong field, winning the opener against the Alliance, Neb. Peltz Company Spartans, 8-3, but dropping the nightcap to the Rapid City Post 320 Stars in six innings, 14-3.
Jack Knutson went 4-for-4 at the dish in game one, with two doubles and two singles to lead the Titans. Aiden Wood earned the pitching win for Sturgis, giving up six hits while striking out seven Spartans and walking four. Evan Stroud got the save for Post 33. The Titans had 13 hits and left seven on base. Cody Galles took the loss for Alliance. The Spartans collected seven hits and left nine on base. Alliance falls to 20-20 on the season.
Game two looked to be a pitcher’s duel early on, with Post 33’s Jack Knutson battling with Post 320’s Laadon Faatz on the bump. The Stars took advantage of mistakes by the Titans to plate two runs in the second inning, one in the third and one in the fourth to take a 4-0 lead.
Post 320 exploded for six runs on three hits in the top of the fifth inning, including a two-run double by Stars right fielder Ben Dressler. The Titans tried to mount a comback in the bottom half of the inning against relief pitcher Jhett Peterson and extended the game by scoring three runs, but the Stars brought four more runs across the plate in the top of the sixth to secure the victory.
Faatz struck out six and walked two, while giving up only three hits to get the win for Rapid City. Dominic Lamb came in on relief and earned the save for the Stars. Post 320 finished with eight hits and left six on base. Knutson took the loss for Sturgis, striking out five and walking five on 105 pitches. The Titans pounded out five hits and were led by Carter Williams, who went 2-for-3 with two singles.
Post 33 (5-17) will host Spearfish Post 164 on Wednesday night in their home American Legion finale, before going on an East River swing next week to wrap up the season.
