Pioneers' perfect 10

Posted 6/10/10

“We were able to hang around until our bats got going,” said Pioneers' coach Mike Jameson following a 17-7 victory over Lovell that saw Powell rally from five runs down to end the game in the eighth inning. “Jake Beuster came in …

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Pioneers' perfect 10

Posted

{gallery}06_10_10/pioneers{/gallery}Tyler England fires the ball across the diamond after making a play in the infield during Monday's 6-5 victory over Lovell. Tribune photo by John WetzelPowell win streak hits double digits on Tuesday It certainly wasn't without moments of drama, but the Powell Pioneers American Legion baseball team extended its win streak into double figures with home and away wins over Lovell on Monday and Tuesday. The team also captured the championship of the Riverton Tournament over the weekend.

“We were able to hang around until our bats got going,” said Pioneers' coach Mike Jameson following a 17-7 victory over Lovell that saw Powell rally from five runs down to end the game in the eighth inning. “Jake Beuster came in during a tough situation and was able to get us out of it and give us some quality innings.”

After jumping out to a two-run lead in their first at-bat, the Pioneers found themselves down 7-2 on the scoreboard as Lovell tagged Powell starter Josh Cragoe for three in the third and four in the fourth.

Pioneer bats returned to life in the fifth inning, however. Grant Geiser connected for a two-run homerun that teammate Scotty Jameson followed with a solo blast that bounced off the top edge of the fence in center field. Catcher Olie Olson narrowly missed giving the Pioneers a third consecutive homer when he one-hopped the wall for a ground-rule double. Colt Nix later rolled a ball to the warning track for a two-run triple.

By the time the longball assault was done, the Pioneers had pushed five runs across home plate to tie the contest. The team's bats continued to make noise in each inning thereafter.

In the sixth, the Pioneers added another four runs. Cragoe connected for a two-run triple. Garrett Czapla added a double that hit the left field fence on the fly, missing being a home run by a couple feet.

“In our park, that ball's gone,” Mike Jameson said of Czapla's shot.

The Pioneers added two more runs in the seventh and four in the eighth to push their advantage to 10 runs. While the team was exploding offensively at the plate, the defense was doing its part to keep Lovell off the scoreboard.

The Mustangs loaded the bases with nobody out in the fifth, but were unable to score a run after Pioneer pitchers logged back-to-back strikeouts and coaxed an infield fly to escape the jam.

The bases were loaded again in the sixth inning with one out before Beuster again came up with a timely strikeout and Olson picked off a Lovell runner at third base to extinguish the threat.

The run-rule finish to Tuesday's game stood in stark contrast to the late nerve-wracking moments Pioneer fans endured in Monday's game. Powell carried a 6-1 lead into the ninth inning before a two-out grand slam pulled the Mustangs to within a run in the top of the ninth.

Geiser maintained his composure to strike out the next Lovell batter to help Powell avert the upset.

“Give them credit,” Jameson said. “They came in here and didn't back down. They had a game plan, stuck to it and Pickett pitched an outstanding game for them.”

Colter Bostick pitched a strong game for the Pioneers as well. Bostick threw eight and two-thirds innings for Powell, allowing just four hits and striking out nine as he improved to 4-0 on the hill this summer.

At the plate, Powell smacked 12 hits in the contest. Nix was 2-for-4 with two RBIs.

The Pioneers improved to 15-3-1 overall and 4-0 in conference play following Tuesday's win. Powell was back in action last night (Wednesday), playing a double-header against Sheridan. The team will take part in Aaron's Tournament in Billings today (Thursday) through Sunday.

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