Powell ends regular season 17-29 after Billings tourney

A 1-6 stretch wasn’t what head coach Jason Borders was hoping for heading into the Single A District Tournament this week in Wheatland.

After two important players were permanently lost to injury last week, the Powell Pioneers are reeling with their most important tournament of the season (thus far) set to start Wednesday. Powell went 1-4 over the weekend at the Billings Halos Tournament in Billings, Montana.

After putting together a nice string of five wins in eight games, Powell (17-29) has lost six of seven. The Pioneers, the second seed from the Northwest Conference, will face Wheatland (seeded third from the Northeast) at 7 p.m. in the first round of the district tournament. The two teams have not faced each other this season.

“It should be a good game,” Borders said. “They’re pretty well coached ... they’ll do things right. They’re not going to make a lot of mistakes.

“If we play good defense and hit the ball a little bit, we’ll be fine.”

WILLISTON 9, POWELL 0

Sunday wrapped up the Billings tourney for the Pioneers, and Powell likely left Montana with a sour taste after another tough loss to Williston (North Dakota).

With talented starter Matt Brown gone for the season due to a back ailment, Borders has been forced to rework his rotation as of late. He started 16-year-old Tyler Feller on Sunday, but the usual catcher managed to last just 2 2/3 innings while giving up five earned runs on four hits with three walks and a strikeout.

Feller’s offense did little to help him, as the Pioneers managed just three hits.

BILLINGS CARDINALS 8, POWELL 2

A two-hit performance from the Pioneers on Saturday again did their pitching staff no favors.

Billings piled on five runs in the first two innings off Powell starter Carson Asher. He lasted 1 1/3 innings, surrendering five earned runs on eight hits with a walk and strikeout.

Asher and Cory Heny accounted for Powell’s RBIs.

In relief of Asher, Ezra Andreasen pitched 4 1/3 innings, allowing one earned run on five hits.

“He’s a pretty smart kid on the mound for a guy that hasn’t pitched that much,” Borders said of Andreasen. “He just knows what he has to do to get guys out.”

POWELL 3, BILLINGS HALOS 2 (9 INN.)

With fourth-year veteran and team leader Cory Heny on the mound early Saturday, Powell made the most of its eight hits to sneak past a talented Halos squad in a tight, nine-inning contest.

Before going the distance on the mound, Heny got things started for his team at the plate with an RBI single to score Teagan Cordes in the first inning. Billings would tie it, but Kaden Moore drove in Bryce Wright with a single to give the Pioneers another lead at 2-1.

When the Halos tied it once more in the bottom half of the fifth, the game remained deadlocked until the ninth frame.

Toby Stowe led off with a single before moving to second on a sacrifice bunt. One out later, Andreasen plated him with a single. Heny then came on to finish the game in the bottom of the inning, giving up two hits before inducing a two-out grounder to end it.

Heny allowed two earned runs on 11 hits with five strikeouts and a pair of walks.

“It was just back and forth all game,” Borders said. “Great game.”

LOVELL 4, POWELL 2

Rain ended the Pioneers’ second game of the tournament quickly on Friday, as Lovell built a 4-2 lead after 2 1/2 innings. Powell was not allowed to bat in their half of the third frame, and no time was available for the two Northwest Conference foes to make up the game.

MILES CITY 8, POWELL 7

The Pioneers came close to a dramatic tournament-opening victory Thursday, but ultimately fell short.

Miles City opened up a 3-0 lead after the first inning, and after Powell came within 3-2, broke open the game with a five-run third frame to make it 8-2.

“I think we just got going a little too late,” Borders said. “We just came off the bus and weren’t ready right away.”

The Pioneers cut the deficit to five when Tyler Feller reached on an error to score Heny in the sixth. Then, Powell poured on four runs in the top of the seventh to put Miles City on the ropes.

After Moore was hit by a pitch and Ty Dearcorn walked to open the inning, Cordes popped out. Andreasen then followed with a double to score Moore and push Dearcorn to third before a passed ball plated Dearcorn and moved Andreasen to third. Heny then scored Andreasen with a single before he himself advanced to third and scored on Asher’s sacrifice fly. The rally was halted however when Feller struck out to end the game.

Dearcorn started the game on the mound for Powell, and lasted three innings. He gave up five earned runs (eight total) on seven hits with three walks and two strikeouts. Andreasen provided solid relief with three hits of two-hit ball in which he surrendered two hits and struck out one without a walk.