Pioneers solid in 15-7 opening win

Posted 6/2/20

The 2020 season opener was a long time coming for the Powell Pioneers American Legion baseball team, but the outcome was satisfying. The Pioneers A team took a 15-7 win over the Billings Halos on …

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Pioneers solid in 15-7 opening win

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The 2020 season opener was a long time coming for the Powell Pioneers American Legion baseball team, but the outcome was satisfying. The Pioneers A team took a 15-7 win over the Billings Halos on Friday in Billings.

The Pioneers practiced under COVID-19 restrictions for most of the month of May. The only action prior to the Billings opener was a scrimmage night with Lovell’s A and B teams.

Powell led all the way in Friday’s nine-inning contest, thanks to a five-run outburst with two out in the second frame.

Cade Queen singled with two men gone to give the Pioneers a runner. Jhett Schwahn and Trey Stenerson followed with singles to load the bases, then Kobe Ostermiller and Brock Johnson came through with RBI singles. The final two runs of the inning scored on a double by Colin Queen.

Powell built the lead to 10-3 with another five-run rally in the fifth inning, scoring three on bases-loaded walks. Colin Queen, who had four hits in the game, had the only base hit of the inning.

In the sixth, Powell added three runs, with the big hit provided by Ashton Brewer — an RBI single that was misplayed and rolled to the wall.

Four Pioneer pitchers turned in a solid effort for manager Joe Cates. Landon Sessions started and threw two innings, giving up two runs on three hits. Cameron Wentz came on to pitch 2.2 innings and allowed two runs on four hits. Stenerson got the final out in the fifth and picked up the win with 2.1 innings of work, giving up two hits and two runs.

Brock Johnson cleaned up with two scoreless innings, yielding two hits.

“They all threw very well,” Cates said. “They pounded the zone and threw strikes, allowing only four walks. Our defense played well behind them.”

Colin Queen went 4-for-4 at the plate with three runs batted in. The Pioneers had 11 hits in the game, with seven players collecting one hit apiece.

The Pioneer A team hosts Riverton for a doubleheader today (Tuesday) with 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. games in the home openers. Meanwhile, the Powell C team is at Lovell for 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. games.

It will be a big weekend of tournament baseball for Pioneer C teams. Powell will field two teams of younger players in the three-day tournament that features 30 games. Also participating will be teams from Cody, Rock Springs, Gillette, Torrington, Douglas, Lovell and three teams from Billings.

   

Line score

Powell — 0 5 0 0 5 3 0 0 2 — R: 15 — H: 11 — E: 1

Billings— 0 3 0 0 2 2 0 0 0 — R: 7 — H: 11 — E: 2

Powell Pioneers

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