RAPID CITY - The Billings Scarlets picked up a 2-1 American Legion baseball win over Rapid City Post 22 on Sunday morning at Fitzgerald Stadium in a game - and series - that coaches for both teams said would only help as the season moves along.
"Billings plays good baseball," Post 22 head coach Dave Ploof said. "That's how you get better, by playing other good people."
The Scarlets got a nice outing, both on the mound and at the plate, from starting pitcher Alex Bushman who helped the Scarlets earn their 11th win of the season (11-8) and handed Post 22 (8-2) its second loss.
"It was a good weekend for us," Billings head coach Adam Hust said. "I was pleased with how we played today and last night. It was a good ballgame and I thought that even though we lost last night (4-0) we got better."
Bushman pitched a complete game, striking out five and walking none as he allowed just one run on a Sam Wolff single in the bottom of the first. It was the ninth straight game with a hit for Wolff, but nobody for Post 22 could manage to get two hits. In fact, Billings shortstop Alexei Grosolak was the only player in the contest to pick up at least two hits.
"Today we had a good outing on the mound again," Hust said. "And, you know we hit the ball - we just didn't hit it with guys on. That kind of concerns me at times, but we're playing hard and working hard and having fun. As long as everyone is doing that we're going to be good."
Both teams scored runs in the first inning as Bushman pushed Grosolak across with a double for Billings in the top half of the inning before Wolff scored Parker Sullivan on an infield single.
Grosolak came around to score again in the third inning after leading off the inning with a double that the Post 22 leftfielder apparently never saw. Grosolak scored when Bushman's fly ball to left field was dropped.
"We made some mental errors today that we need to fix," Ploof said. "That is something that we need to work on."
Post 22 starter J.J. Johnson threw well, allowing eight hits in six innings, two runs (one earned) and striking out two.
"Our pitchers in this series really threw the ball well," Ploof said. "That's what you look for in this game, and we're looking for more. J.J. really threw well and Thane Lees came in for the last inning and threw well, too."
The Scarlets head back home where they will open their conference schedule against Helena this weekend.
Post 22 will play Gillette on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. before taking off for Denver and a full slate of games this weekend.
