RAPID CITY - Sixteen-year-old Kolton Emery has been dominating all year according to Post 22 head coach Dave Ploof, and that was never more apparent than Thursday night as he spun a nifty five-inning no-hitter as his team beat the Helena Montana Senators, 8-0, at Fitzgerald Stadium.
The final game of the first day of the Rich Hinseth Agency tournament was Emery's from the start as he went 0-2 on the first two hitters retiring both, an omen for what was to come. Emery worked ahead of hitters throughout, moving the ball around and kept the hitters off balance all night.
Emery retired the first 11 batters he faced before issuing a fourth inning walk. An error in the fifth allowed another base-runner before the last two batters were retired on fly balls to the outfield.
"Kolton has dominated hitters all year," Ploof said. "He comes right at you but works smart, hitting his spots and moving the ball around. Tonight was another outstanding effort."
Offensively, the hard hats jumped ahead in the first as Dana Hill singled in Jordan Mette who had walked and moved around to third on a wild pickoff throw. In the second, Post 22 (15-11) scored another run by virtue of a single base hit, a single by Brock Estes.
A three-run fourth centered around a Jarrett Jensen leadoff double, an RBI single by Parker Sullivan and a run scoring ground out by Mette with a couple of Helena errors contributing to the cause. That chased Senator starter Jake Sharbono.
The climactic fifth frame, ending the game via the eight-run rule in effect for the tournament, resulted from singles by Steven Ficken and Jake Bohne sandwiched around three walks before a Mette sacrifice fly chased in the game-ender.
Post 22's nine hits were scattered throughout the lineup with only Hill and Brock Estes credited with two hits each
"We showed it all tonight," said Ploof. "Good hitting, good defense and great pitching. We are showing signs of being a good ballclub and are coming together as a team."
In earlier tournament action, the Post 22 Split Squad was nipped by Wheatland, Wyo. in eight innings 7-5 in the first game of the day. Kyle Singer had four hits for Split Squad and Brock Thomas chipped in with three hits.
In other action, Laramie Wyo., breezed to a 12-1 five-inning win over Merced, Calif. A nine-run third inning iced the game. Sean Gardea had four hits for Laramie which was greatly aided by nine walks and two hit batsman.
The third game of the day was a barnburner as Watertown squeezed past Great Falls, Mont., 13-12 in a wild game in which the two teams combined for 28 hits and 13 errors. Blake Turbak homered for Watertown.
Helena lost to Cherry Creek, Colo., in early evening action 8-5 as Cherry Creek bounced back from a 3-0 deficit with a six-run fourth inning.
Cherry Creek benefited in the game from a shaky Helena defense which led to eight unearned runs.
Action continues Friday with the Post 22 Split Squad meeting Laramie in a 9:30 a.m. contest and the varsity playing Watertown in the last game of the day at approximately 7:30 p.m.
