Powell Pioneers split at Douglas

Posted 5/26/16

Such was the case this past Saturday as the Powell Pioneers dropped a close one then won in a heavy-handed blowout in American Legion action at Douglas.

The opener was a pitcher’s duel, with Powell’s Kaden Moore and the Cats’ Brayden …

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Powell Pioneers split at Douglas

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Bats heat up for second-game stomping

It is the beauty of baseball, how much things can change from one game to the next.

Such was the case this past Saturday as the Powell Pioneers dropped a close one then won in a heavy-handed blowout in American Legion action at Douglas.

The opener was a pitcher’s duel, with Powell’s Kaden Moore and the Cats’ Brayden Hunsucker locking horns for the first five innings, each surrendering just one run.

After Hunsucker worked through a scoreless first, he helped his own cause to grab an early lead.

Hunsucker led off the bottom of the first with a single to right and moved to second when Mason Barker drew a walk with one out.

Ryan Lebert then saw his fly ball drop into short left field, bringing Hunsucker around with a run before Moore worked out of it.

The second and third innings saw both hurlers put up goose eggs, but the Pioneers got to Hunsucker and evened things up in the top of the fourth.

Tegan Cordes beat out an infield single to deep short to lead things off, and Carson Asher ripped a line-drive double to right.

Cordes, however, was gunned down trying to score.

But one out later, Tyler Feller brought Asher in by reaching on a grounder and the game was knotted at 1-1.

It would remain there as Alex Howell came on in relief of Hunsucker in the sixth, and kept Powell at bay.

Moore worked through the sixth with no more damage done, but in the bottom of the seventh, Brad Brooks drew a walk and Howell reached on a bunt single, putting the winning run at second.

Ezra Andreason then was brought in from the bullpen, and got Paul Snyder to hit a grounder to short for a fielder’s choice.

But Brooks now stood at third, just 90 feet from ending the game, which would soon happen as Hunsucker sent the game-winning base-knock into right for a 2-1 Douglas win.

Crushing capper

While the first game saw runs at a premium, the nightcap was a parade of runs as the Pioneers saw a dozen runners score in the 12-4 win.

The Cats took the early lead, scoring twice off Asher in the bottom of the first inning.

Hunsucker and Ty Kelley started things with back-to-back singles before Barker worked a walk and Ryan Lebert singled to plate a run.

Asher enduced a double play grounder from Dillon Silzle, but Lebert would come in to make it a 2-0 Douglas lead.

It wouldn’t last long, though, as Moore and Andreason each singled to start the top of the second, with Luke Washington then belting an RBI double, halving the lead and putting runners at second and third.

Cat pitcher Kale Shelver got a strike out, but hit Ben Jackson with a pitch and with two outs, Cordes singled home Andreason and Washington, with Asher then singling on a liner to left to score Jackson.

A double by Feller soon brought Cordes across and saw Powell on top 5-2.

The Pioneers would add three more in the third, with Moore, Andreason and Washington drawing consecutive walks and each coming around to score for an 8-2 lead.

The scoring fell silent until the top of the sixth, when Powell all but put the finishing touches on this one.

Feller earned a base on balls and Moored singled, putting runners on the corners.

Feller scored on Andreason’s single and Washington walked to load the bases.

Moore would come in on a passed ball, Andreason came plateward on a Jackson grounder to first and Washington stole home to make it a 12-2 game.

Douglas scratched for an unearned run in the sixth off Asher, who would give way to Andreason in the seventh, after completing his day with just one walk and eight strike outs in his six innings of work.

Another unearned run was scored by the Cats in the bottom of the seventh, but Andreason got a strike out to end it for the 12-4 win.

Cordes led the 12-hit attack with four singles with Moore and Andreason adding two hits each.

Moore, Andreason and Washington all scored three times.

The Pioneers have Memorial Day weekend off, but travel to Riverton for a Thursday-Saturday tournament at Riverton, June 2-4.

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