Minors teams meet in consolation contest

The Powell Little League Majors All-Stars finished fourth over the weekend. The Powell Majors split their pool play games, defeating Sheridan B by a 15-11 final count and falling to tournament co-host Cody by a 12-2 final score.

Against Sheridan, Paige Gann led the way with three hits and a pair of runs scored. Zavier Wantulok, Tyler Feller, Ty Dearcorn, John Stutzman and Randy Carter all added two hits apiece as Powell bats roared throughout the game.

Stutzman began the game pitching for the boys in orange and picked up the win. Jon Moore tagged in midway through the contest to secure the save.

The offense didn’t have nearly as much success in the tournament opener against Cody. Dearcorn and Wantulok scored the only two runs in the game for Powell. Wantulok also had the only two-hit game at the plate for Powell batters.

The split of Friday games put Powell on Saturday’s semifinal bracket against Sheridan A. Powell scored a pair of runs early in that contest, but couldn’t hold down the Sheridan offense, falling 13-2.

Dearcorn picked up the only hit of the game for Powell as the team struck out 10 times in the contest. He, along with Randy Carter, were the only ones to score in the contest.

Carter started the game and allowed just four runs while fanning three before hitting the tournament’s pitching limit. In his absence, Sheridan teed off to pull away on the scoreboard.

The loss dropped Powell into the third-place game against Riverton. A noticeably fatigued Powell team continued to struggle at the plate and under the summer heat as the team was no-hit. Marshal Wittick scored the lone run for Powell.

Riverton had no such difficulties. The visiting team slapped five home runs in the game and collected 19 hits in an 18-1 win. ww

In Minors division action, Powell teams failed to reach the semifinal bracket in pool play and faced off against each other in Saturday’s consolation game, which was moved to Powell from Cody. Powell’s All-Star team scored a 12-4 win over a Powell B-team comprised mostly of 9-year-olds.

Zane Cordes plated the first two runs of the game with a base hit in the first inning for the B-team. Powell’s All-Star squad answered with five runs in the bottom of the inning. Charlie Whitlock’s bases-loaded double proved to be the key shot in a five-run inning.

The score remained 5-2 heading into the bottom of the third. Reece Hackenberg stole his way home and Carson Heinen also scored to stretch the All-Stars’ lead to five runs.

In the fourth inning, Powell B scored two more runs as Garrett Stutzman led off the inning with a double and scored through some heads-up base running. Nate Brown walked later in the frame and scored on a single off the bat of Zane Cordes.

Ben Jackson, Kanyon Gann, Cameron Wentz, Kealan Groves and Colin Queen each scored in the bottom of the inning for the All-Stars to close the game.

Powell B lost its pool games 20-1 to Cody B and 23-1 to Riverton A. Twelve of the 13 players on the roster pitched.

“We didn’t put a lot of runs on the board, but we put smiles on a lot of kids’ faces,” said coach Victor Cordes. “These were 9-year-olds playing the best of the best from these other towns.”

Scores for the All-Stars’ pool play games were unavailable.