DENVER - Rapid City Post 22 opened play in the Cherry Creek Tournament with a pair of solid pitching performances. In the opener, Post 22 toppled Denver Khaos 9-1 behind a two-hitter from Zach Vlietstra. In Game 2, Mitch Jaeger scattered seven hits in a 8-0 victory over Heritage, Colo.
Zach Vlietstra was in control of the game from the start as he faced only 19 batters, allowing only one unearned run while fanning nine.
The Post 22 offense came up with six runs in the third inning to give Vlietstra all the runs he would need.
Alex Niemann banged out three hits while Nick Tolsma, Blaine Linster and J.J. Martin all had two hits. Tolsma, Linster and Garrett Wolff each had triples in the win.
In the nightcap, Mitch Jaeger threw five shutout innings en route to the win.
The bottom of the Post 22 lineup accounted for six RBIs.
Rapid City scored twice in the second and third innings before adding four more runs in the fifth to seal the win.
"You need production from the entire lineup, and we received that in the second game as our last three hitters all came up with big hits," said Post 22 head coach Dave Ploof.
Jordan Mette drove in three runners and Parker Sullivan plated two from the eight and nine spots in the order.
Designated hitter Paul Gates added a single and double while Tolsma cracked a home run and Vlietstra contributed a triple.
Post 22 continues action today with a game against Farmington, New Mexico.
