RAPID CITY, SD – The Post 22 Hardhats showed why they are the premier American Legion baseball team in South Dakota as they blew out the Sturgis Post 33 Titans 23-0 in five innings at Fitzgerald Stadium.
Post 22 plated six runs in the bottom of the first inning, seven more in the bottom of the second and five runs on five hits in the bottom of the third inning to take an 18-0 lead into the fourth.
The Hardhats scored five runs on two hits in the bottom of the fourth inning to lead 23-0. Relief pitcher Brody Johnson shut down the Titans in the top of the fifth to give Post 22 the mercy rule victory.
Carter Johnson earned the win for Post 22 on the bump, giving up three hits and no runs over three innings, striking out three and walking one. Brody Royer took the loss for Sturgis Post 33. The righty gave up five hits and 12 runs over one and one-third innings, striking out one and walking five.
Post 22 finished with 12 hits and were led by Dawson Inhofer and Jace Morgan, who both went 3-for-3 at the plate with two RBIs and three runs each.
Ethan Cermak, Dalyn Dschaak, and Elijah Stroud each collected one hit for Post 33.
Post 22 improved to 46-7-1 on the season and will travel to Post 307 in Renner, SD for their next game on Friday. Sturgis Post 33 falls to 12-12 and is in action next on July 17 at home against Watertown Post 17.
