RAPID CITY - Minot, N.D., beat Sturgis Post 33, 9-4, on Saturday by taking control early in their matchup at the Dr. James "Pev" Evans Tournament.
Sturgis fought hard and was in the game throughout, but in a game in which the longest base hit was a double, Minot was able to go on two keys runs to keep it in front from the first inning on.
Minot was ahead 6-0 after three innings before Sturgis was able to make a charge, and it was able to add three runs in the sixth to cut the lead to two.
Minot got off to a fast start in the first inning. Lead-off hitter Creighton Bachmeier hit a single and advanced to third on a steal and a sacrifice bunt. Bollinger, the third hitter in the order, hit a single to score Bachmeier. Both players led all hitters on the day by going 3-for-4.
Minot added two runs in the second inning. Josh Oothoudt, the No. 7 hitter, scored on a sacrifice fly by Kalvin Larson. Two hitters later, Ryan Honacker hit a fly ball to score Shane Gathman.
Sturgis started the contest slow, with only one hit in the first three innings. Andy Jones hit a single to left field, but two consecutive outs left him stranded on base.
The second time at-bat was a charm for the top of Sturgis' order. It got the bats going in the top of the fourth inning to score the team's first run. Left fielder Hugo Estes hit a ball to right field to start the inning. After a strikeout and pop-fly by consecutive batters, Andy Jones pushed Estes to second base after an error. An ensuing walk of Alan McMillin left the bases loaded, and first baseman Gabe Gillette hit a single to score Estes. However, the final out left three runners stranded on base.
Stranded runners plagued Sturgis throughout the game. Post 33 left three runners on base after the fifth inning and two after the sixth inning.
Post 33 scored two more runs in the fifth inning. Consecutive singles by Eli Bueno and Estes put runners on first and second. After a strikeout, second baseman Trevor Potts hit a single to score Bueno. In the following at-bat, Jones had Sturgis' best hit of the day, a double to left field, allowing Estes to cross home plate.
Zac Elgie was the winning pitcher for Minot after throwing for 4-2/3 innings, striking out four batters and walking two. Casey Hanzlik took the loss after throwing for 5-2/3 innings.
The loss was the second in as many games for Sturgis at the tournament as it prepares to face Post 22 Split Squad today at 2:30 p.m.
