PUEBLO, Colo. – Friday the 13th proved to be a day of both nail-biting defeat and triumphant redemption for the Rapid City Post 22 Hardhats, as they split a doubleheader at the Runyon Field Sports Complex. The Hardhats battled fiercely but ultimately fell to Cheyenne Post 6 Sixers 4-3 in their opener before unleashing an offensive explosion to defeat Blacksox – Black of Wichita Falls, Texas, 13-4 in the nightcap.
Game One: Late Inning Heartbreak Against Cheyenne
The Hardhats’ first contest against Cheyenne Post 6 Sixers was a closely fought affair that saw the lead change hands and the game go into extra innings. Post 22 initially seized the advantage in the bottom of the third when Kain McLeod’s single brought home two runs, giving them an early lead.
However, Cheyenne steadily chipped away, with Anthony Pacheco’s seventh-inning single knotting the score at three. The deadlock held until the top of the eighth, when Landon McAnelly’s timely single pushed across what would be the winning run for the Sixers, securing a 4-3 victory.
“Cheyenne’s a lot better than they were at the beginning of the year,” commented Hardhats Head Coach Kelvin Tore after the tough loss. “Basically, the bottom line was we scored early and they scored late. They had the momentum late in the game, and they ended up scoring one run in extra innings, which beat us… it was a tough loss.”
Braden Pearson earned the win for Cheyenne, delivering seven strong innings with five strikeouts. Carter Johnson took the loss for Post 22, while starter Colten Morlang put in a solid effort with three and one-third scoreless innings. Offensively for the Hardhats, McLeod led the charge with two hits and two RBIs. Wyatt Reeder and Dexter Steen also contributed two hits apiece. Cheyenne’s attack was led by Anthony Pacheco’s three hits and Brayden Kamarad’s two RBIs, as they racked up 12 hits as a team.
Game Two: Hardhats Shut Down Blacksox in Dominant Win
Undeterred by the earlier defeat, the Post 22 Hardhats responded emphatically in their second game, overcoming the Blacksox – Black from Wichita Falls, TX, with a decisive 13-4 victory.
The Blacksox got on the board early in the second inning with runs scored from a Jesus Garza single and an Adrian Arias double. However, the Hardhats quickly flipped the script in the bottom of the third, exploding for six runs on three hits to take a commanding 7-3 lead. The biggest hit of the inning came from Aiden Roberts, who singled to drive in three runs.
Post 22 continued their offensive onslaught in the fifth inning, adding another six runs on six hits. Blayn Hunt, Wyatt Reeder, Jace Morgan, and Dawson Inhofer all contributed with RBI singles and doubles in the massive inning. The Hardhats’ bottom of the lineup proved particularly effective, with Hunt, Josh Elder, and Inhofer combining for six of the team’s 12 hits and driving in five runs. Overall, Roberts, Hunt, Morgan, and Inhofer each drove in two runs. The Hardhats also showed excellent plate discipline, drawing six walks, with Reeder and Morgan earning two free passes each.
Coach Tore expressed his satisfaction with the team’s bounce-back performance. “It was a really good win,” Tore stated. “They were a very good team… and they were a little mouthy and we played well and we kind of shut them up, which was very gratifying.”
Rowan Fredrickson earned the win for Post 22, allowing four runs on nine hits over five innings while striking out five. Blacksox starter Ryder Taylor took the loss. Adrian Arias led Blacksox with two RBIs, while Kaleb Roberts collected three hits.
The Hardhats’ split on Friday the 13th demonstrated their resilience and offensive depth, setting the stage for more exciting baseball as their season continues.
