The Powell Pioneers started 0-2 in the 2026 season with a challenging doubleheader on the road, losing to the Casper Oilers 15-5 and 11-1 on Sunday.

CASPER OILERS 15, POWELL 5

Starting the season Sunday, the Pioneers (0-2) matched up with the top team from Casper in the Oilers (2-0).

The Pioneers struck first in the top of the inning, as Abel Teten walked, Talon Nuss reached on an error and Ben Ostermiller walked to load the bases with no outs.

After a strikeout, Dominik Bieber grounded out to the first baseman but scored Teten to give Powell a 1-0 lead.

Casper answered in the bottom half, as a single and walk got runners on, and an eventual passed ball scored a run to tie the game 1-1.

The Oilers loaded the bases with another walk and a one out single, before a balk scored a run and made it 2-1 after the first.

Walks and errors piled up for the Pioneers in a disastrous second inning, as five walks, three errors and one single resulted in the Oilers scoring eight runs and taking a commanding 10-1 lead.

“We had a couple bad innings in both games and let it get away from us,” manager Jason Borders said.

The Pioneers got some runs back in the third, as Nuss got on with a leadoff walk.

Caden Diaz hit a one out single and Bieber walked to load the bases.

Kolby Gates singled to score one, and Rowan Diaz was hit by a pitch to score another.

Teten walked with two outs and scored one more, as Powell trailed 10-4.

Powell added another in the fourth, as Caden singled and Bieber tripled to score him and make it a 10-5 game.

Two singles, a hit batter, a walk and two sac flies led to three more Oilers runs to make it a 13-5 game after the fourth.

The Pioneers didn’t get a baserunner in the top of the fifth, and Casper pulled away for the 10 run rule via a double, walk, passed ball and an error to make it a 15-5 game.

Casper outhit Powell only 6-4, as the Pioneers committed more errors 4-1.

Powell walked 11 batters compared to five for Casper.

“You can’t have either of them (walks and errors), but you definitely can’t have both of them,” Borders said. “We looked good inside all winter but when it came time to pitch to live batters it was a different game. We struggled with command.”

Caden led with two of the four Powell hits, as Bieber led with two RBIs.

Five of Casper’s 15 runs were charged as earned runs against the Pioneers.

CASPER OILERS 11, POWELL 1

In the second contest the Oilers took the early lead, as two walked and advanced on a passed ball before a single scored both runs to make it 2-0 after the first inning.

Casper added another in the third, as a double and a single scored a run to make it 3-0.

The Pioneers got one back in the top of the fourth, as Caden doubled and Bieber tripled to score him and make it 3-1.

In the fourth a single and two errors loaded the bases for Casper, and a walk scored one before a triple scored three and made it 7-1.

“We gave ourselves a fly ball or a ground ball and didn’t make a play. It’ll get cleaned up, we had a good week of practice,” Borders said. “I’m not too worried about it.”

Casper added another as a walk put runners on the corners, and a steal at second allowed the runner at third to steal home.

Another single scored that baserunner to make it 9-1.

A walk put another runner on for Casper, before two passed balls during the same batter scored the runner from second and made it a 10-1 game heading into the fifth.

Powell got one baserunner in the fifth but couldn’t find a run, before a hit batter, a steal and a single scored the final runner to make it an 11-1 final.

The Oilers outhit the Pioneers 8-3 as Powell committed the only two errors in the contest.

“Casper is a good team, they won’t make mistakes. Can’t get away with anything against them,” Borders said. “We had some good at bats in those games. I didn’t think our bats would be as good compared to our pitching and defense the first weekend.”

Powell walked seven batters compared to two for Casper, as the Pioneers only had four earned runs charged against them once again.

HOME CONTESTS

After starting on the road the Pioneers will play at home Saturday and Sunday.

Powell was originally scheduled to play in Riverton on Saturday against another Casper team and host Riverton, but after a schedule change the Pioneers will play at home instead.

The Pioneers now take on Gallatin Valley at 1 and 3 p.m. Saturday at home before hosting the Sheridan Jets (0-4) with the same start times on Sunday.

“It’ll be nice to just be home and play in front of the home crowd. The boys will be happy with this change,” Borders said. “Gallatin will give us another challenge … I just wanna see our defense tighten up. Our pitchers work on strikes. We’ve just gotta clean things up that we didn’t do last weekend. I think our pitchers will pitch well at home.”