Difficult competition greeted the Pioneers on the road this past weekend, as a trip to Jackson to take part in the Jackson Southwest Series had the Pioneers matching up with new teams early in the season.

POWELL 12, ROCK SPRINGS 2

The Pioneers (8-11 overall) started the weekend bright and early on Saturday as Powell matched up with AA Rock Springs (2-21 overall) in an attempt to take down the Stallions.

Taking to the mound for the Pioneers was Brock Johnson, who was dealing early, allowing only two hits through the first four innings of play.

Unfortunately for Powell, run support did not come early until the bottom of the fourth.

Cade Queen scored on a wild pitch midway through the inning after he reached base to leadoff on an error.

Aiden Greenwald scored on a wild pitch during the next at bat, after he had reached base on a single earlier in the inning.

The Pioneers added another run on a Jhett Schwahn single to give the Pioneers a 3-0 advantage heading into the fifth.

Rock Springs got its only runs of the game at the top of the fifth as two runners were brought in on a single and a fielder’s choice to make it 3-2.

In order to keep a lead, the Pioneers needed a response in the bottom half of the inning, and a response is what Powell got.

Dalton Worstell drove in a run, Greenwald scored on a passed ball after reaching on a single, Nathan Feller was walked to bring in Worstell, Johnson walked to bring in another run and Trey Stenerson hit a double and cleared the bases to bring in three more.

In total the Pioneers brought in seven runs in the fifth inning, blowing the game open to a 10-2 lead heading into the sixth.

After a three-up three-down top half of the sixth, Powell put the game to bed in the bottom half.

Aidan Wantulok drove in Greenwald, who was walked to start the inning, and Wantulok later scored on a passed ball to make it 12-2 and end the game in the sixth inning due to the mercy rule.

“I felt like we played really well,” Pioneers Manager Jason Borders said.

Johnson finished the gam, giving up only four hits and two earned runs along with 10 strikeouts to give the Pioneers a strong opening-game victory.

GALLATIN 5, POWELL 0

A second game greeted the Pioneers in the afternoon on Saturday, as Powell matched up with top competition from Bozeman, Montana — the Gallatin Valley Outlaws.

The Outlaws got on the board early, a single brought in a run in the top of the second to give Gallatin a 1-0 lead.

The Pioneers continued to keep things close through the pitching of Queen, but were only able to muster one hit through the first three innings.

A triple in the top of the fourth extended the Outlaws lead, as two runs were driven in to make it 3-0.

“They got the big hits that they needed and we didn’t,” Borders said. “I thought Cade [Queen] played there well and kept them off balance but we did not get the big hits.”

Powell again remained close, but were unable to have any real scoring threats heading into the sixth.

Gallatin added two more runs in the top of the sixth, causing the lead to swell.

The Pioneers got two runners on in the bottom of the seventh, but were unable to bring any runners in as Gallatin walked away with a 5-0 victory.

CODY 10, POWELL 2

Heading into what was originally supposed to be the third game of the tournament, the Pioneers got a rare early look at Northwest rival Cody (6-2 overall).

Cody got on the board first, as the Cubs drove in one runner on a fielder’s choice to make it 1-0 after the first.

In the second inning Queen and Stenerson reached on a walk and a single and advanced on a Worstell single to give Powell a 2-1 lead after two innings.

Cody tied the game in the third on a single to make it 3-3.

The Cubs took the lead back in the fourth inning when the Pioneers surrendered four runs. Cody took the lead 6-2.

The Pioneers were unable to keep Cody off balance throughout the game, something Borders attributed to Powell not getting sliders and curveballs in the zone.

“We just could not throw our offspeed,” Borders said.

Cody pulled away in the top of the fifth, adding three more runs to make it 9-2.

One final run was added in the top of the seventh, making the final score 10-2.

Due to weather conditions, the Pioneers were forced to cancel the final game against Green River but will have an opportunity to see the Knights on the road this upcoming weekend.

“We got to see them before we see them in conference so we have a good idea of what they look like now,” Borders said.

GREEN RIVER TOURNAMENT

The Pioneers head back out on the road this weekend for another tournament, traveling to Green River on Saturday and Sunday to take part in the Green River Knight Invitational.

Powell kicks off the tournament against AA Evanston on Saturday at noon and will have a late-afternoon game against A Riverton at 5:30 p.m.

The Pioneers then open early on Sunday against northwest foe Lovell at 9 a.m. and finish off the tournament against hosts Green River at 2 p.m.

The Pioneers return to the area next Wednesday as they head to Cowley on Wednesday to take on Lovell in a doubleheader at 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. to open conference play.

Early season injuries are plaguing the Pioneers, as multiple athletes are dealing with injuries and Borders does not expect the team to be at full strength for two or more weeks.

Borders is hoping improving weather throughout the week will help the Pioneers get back on track with hitting, as the summer schedule is rapidly approaching.