Team drops three games in North DakotaWhen he unveiled the 2010 schedule, Powell Pioneer head coach Mike Jameson noted that he'd added some new events in an effort to challenge his team. That wish was fulfilled over the weekend as the Pioneers met their match at a tournament in Williston, N.D.

“It was a reality check for us, that's for sure,” said Jameson, whose team managed just one win in four games at the tournament. “The pitching was better than what we've been seeing, and that seemed to keep us off balance throughout the weekend. One through nine, it seemed the hitters we faced were solid. Everyone was able to hurt us and, too often, they did.”

The weekend began well for the Pioneers as the team opened play in Williston with a 9-0 shutout of Weyburn, Sask., Canada. Jacob Beuster threw a complete-game three-hitter, striking out three batters and walking none.

“That was really the key to his success,” Jameson said of Beuster's control on the hill.

Beuster also delivered all the offense Powell would need in the contest by delivering a home run in the game. Teammate Josh Cragoe barely missed sending one out of the yard as well, crushing a fly ball off the fence in straightaway center field for a triple.

“If he pulls that ball even a couple of inches, it would have been gone,” said Jameson.

Scotty Jameson added a pair of triples and three RBIs in the game. Dallas Robirds went 2-for-2 as Powell hammered out 10 hits.

Even more impressive, according to the Pioneers' coach, was the fact Powell played the full game without committing an error in the field.

From there, things went south for Powell in the tournament. The Pioneers fell 7-3 to the Regina (Sask.) Wolfpack. Cragoe took the loss on the hill with Colt Nix tossing the final two innings in relief.

Grant Geiser was the only Pioneer to finish with more than one hit in the game as he went 2-for-3 with a triple.

“We saw a good pitcher and he kept us off balance,” said Jameson. “We didn't look completely comfortable in the batter's box.”

Those troubles continued as the Pioneers dropped an 11-3 decision to Aberdeen, S.D., in another pool game.

“Again, we faced a pretty good pitcher and he kept us off balance,” said Jameson. “We managed just five hits.”

Geiser, again, was the Pioneers' only multi-hit batter, finishing with two doubles. Colter Bostick was saddled with the loss.

Powell wrapped up its tournament appearance with an 11-3 loss to Raymore, Sask., as Scotty Jameson took a rare loss on the mound. Jameson struck out six, but was the victim of several untimely miscues behind him.

“We made a lot of mental mistakes on defense,” said Mike Jameson. “Offensively, we weren't there either. I think we just had a mental letdown from a long weekend.”

Robirds went 3-for-3 in the contest. Olie Olson added a 2-for-3 game that resulted in two of the Pioneers' three RBIs.

The weekend results give Powell a 21-8-2 record for the summer. The team travels to Billings for a doubleheader against Billings Big League on Tuesday. The twinbill was added to the schedule as a reciprocal trip after the Billings squad traveled to Powell earlier this summer.

The Pioneers host the Heavy Metal Classic this weekend. The three-day tournament begins Friday and will see Powell, Douglas, Jackson, the Billings Selects and the Billings Blue Jays battle it out in round-robin fashion.