Late Powell rally foils upset bidDallas Robirds' one-out RBI single in the bottom of the seventh inning completed a three-run rally as the Powell Pioneers American Legion baseball team scored a 6-1, 7-6 doubleheader sweep of visiting Green River on Tuesday. With the wins, Powell improves to 29-11-2 overall this summer.

“We didn't win pretty, but we found a way to win,” said Pioneers coach Mike Jameson. “That's going to happen sometimes. It's important at this time of the year that when things don't go your way, you find a way to dig deep and get a win.”

The Pioneers were struggling to catch up the entire way in the nightcap game after Green River used five base hits and a pair of Pioneer errors to build a five-run first inning lead. The margin loomed even larger due to the games being played with wooden bats.

“It's a different game when you're playing with wood,” said Jameson. “You can't sit around waiting for a three-run homer. You have to string together some hits.”

Powell was able to do that to a degree in the bottom of the first inning. Grant Geiser and Auston Carter each came through with RBI singles as part of a four-hit inning that trimmed the Green River lead to 5-2.

Green River threatened again in the fourth, loading the bases on a hit and two errors. Powell worked its way out of the jam after catcher Josh Cragoe picked the Green River runner off third base. Green River lost another baserunner after a ground ball up the middle bounced off the foot of a Green River player traveling from second to third base. Powell added a strikeout to escape from the fourth with only one Green River run scored.

Powell pulled within 6-4 in the bottom half of the fourth, scoring on a wild pitch and an RBI single from Geiser. The Pioneers looked to be on their way to grabbing the lead in the sixth, loading the bases with one out in front of clean-up hitter Scotty Jameson.

Green River escaped the precarious situation unscathed as Jameson's fly ball behind first base was run down by Green River. Robirds was cut down attempting to tag up and score on the play for the third out of the inning.

Powell didn't squander its final chance though. Olie Olson singled with one out and Garrett Czapla and Colt Nix followed by drawing walks. The Pioneers tied the game thanks to a pair of wild pitches — the second coming as Green River attempted to intentionally walk Tyler England to set up a possible double play — to set the stage for Robirds' heroics.

Robirds finished the game 3-for-5 at the plate. Geiser and Olson each delivered two hits as Powell tagged Green River for 11 hits in the contest. Colt Nix earned the victory on the mound, throwing the final three innings for Powell, allowing just one hit and striking out four in the process.

“Colt came in and really kept them off balance,” said Mike Jameson. “His velocity was as good as I've seen it and he did a great job of mixing his curve ball in.”

Olie Olson began the contest as Powell's starter and struck out six in four innings of work. Many of the six runs scored off Olson were unearned.

The Pioneers' opening-game victory was shorter on drama. Powell scored single runs in the second, third and fourth innings to take a 3-0 lead. Green River got on the board in the fifth inning, transforming a two-out single off Pioneer starter Colter Bostick into a run.

Powell added three insurance runs in the sixth inning despite recording just one hit in the frame. Three Green River errors in the frame helped account for the Pioneers' damage.

That proved to be more than enough offense for Bostick to get the win on the mound. Bostick allowed just three hits and struck out six in the contest while walking three and recording another complete game this summer.

Carter doubled and drove in a run as part of a 2-for-3 performance at the plate for Powell. England added a 2-for-4 showing that included an RBI. Joe Wisniewski turned in Powell's only other hit.

The Pioneers are in Casper, beginning today (Thursday), for a four-day tournament. Powell will play five games in the round-robin event, including four against teams from Colorado.

“We're looking to go in and do the things we're good at,” said Mike Jameson. “When we do that, we're a tough team to beat.”

The Pioneers' next home game will be July 13 when Powell hosts Cody in a conference game.