STURGIS, SD – The Sturgis Post 33 Titans rallied from an early four-run deficit to defeat Belle Fourche Post 32 on Monday at Strong Field to win their home American Legion tournament, the Sturgis Baseball Rally.
The Broncs opened the scoring in the first after Nolan Wahlfeldt singled, scoring one run.
The Titans tied the game at one in the bottom of the first, as leadoff hitter Drew Janke walked, stole second, moved to third base on an error and scored on a wild pitch by Wahlfeldt.
Belle Fourche Post 32 pounded out four straight hits off Titan pitcher Cael Pool in the top of the second, scoring four runs to take a 5-1 lead.
Sturgis Post 33 jumped back into the lead in the bottom of the third inning, taking advantage of errors by Post 32 and plating three runs to take a 6-5 lead into the fourth.
Pool, heading into his freshman year at Sturgis Brown High School in the fall, settled down and gave up just two hits and one run over the next four innings. The Titans scored a run in the fourth inning and two more in the sixth to put the game out of reach.
Pool earned the complete game victory for Sturgis Post 33. The righthander surrendered nine hits and six runs over seven innings, striking out four and walking two on 103 pitches. Wahlfeldt took the loss for Belle Fourche Post 32.
Dalyn Dschaak led Sturgis Post 33 with two hits in three at bats. Post 33 finished with four hits and left eight on base. Janke, Elijah Stroud, and Ethan Cermak each drove in one run for the Titans. The Titans had 10 stolen bases in the game and improve to 6-8 on the season.
The Broncs had nine hits and left seven on base. Graham VanderBoom went 2-for-2 at the plate to lead Belle Fourche Post 32. Wahlfeldt, Raif Parmeter, Gavin Pearson, Carson Hahne, and Urijah Hamilton each drove in one run for the Broncs (9-5).
The Titans are in action next on June 25, as they host Casper at Strong Field.
