RAPID CITY, SD – The Rapid City Post 22 Hardhats 2025 put on a masterful performance on Sunday, July 6, 2025, defeating the Missoula Mavericks AA 2025 by a score of 6-0 to win the 50th annual Firecracker Tournament at Floyd Fitzgerald Stadium. A combined shutout effort from pitchers Skyler Montgomery and Broeden Sales, coupled with a potent offensive attack led by Kain McLeod, secured the championship for the Hardhats.
“Broeden Sales really stepped up.” Said Post 22 Head Coach Kelvin Tore. “It’s really only his second or third start of the year, and he came out and competed, struggled in the first inning to get his command, but he got out of it. And then he gave us four more innings, which was really huge for us. Because when you have a big when you have a long tournament, you need pitchers to go deep in games. And he did a fantastic job.”
Sales, who earned the win, was brilliant through four innings, surrendering just two hits and no runs while striking out four. Montgomery came on in relief and continued to stifle the Mavericks’ bats, tossing three scoreless innings, allowing only one hit, and inducing a game-ending double play to seal the victory.
The Hardhats’ offense wasted no time getting on the board, opening the scoring in the bottom of the first inning. Kain McLeod got things started with a double, driving in the game’s first run. McLeod was a force at the plate all day, collecting three hits in three at-bats, including two doubles and a single.
Post 22 extended their lead in the third inning, with McLeod again delivering a crucial blow, doubling to score two runs. Jace Morgan followed with a sacrifice fly, adding another run to the Hardhats’ tally.
Rapid City’s offense collected 10 hits in total, with McLeod and Wyatt Reeder each tallying three hits to lead the charge. The Hardhats also showcased stellar defense, turning three double plays and committing no errors, with Reeder making an impressive seven plays in the field.
Missoula Mavericks AA 2025 struggled to generate offense, managing only three hits in the game. Kaden Thennis led the Mavericks with two hits, while Rylan Davis showed patience at the plate, drawing four walks. Despite tallying nine walks as a team, Missoula couldn’t capitalize, ultimately falling to the dominant Post 22.
Kelvin Tore remarked “We’re honored to win the 50th firecracker. And we’re proud of it… I really like the way our team is playing. We’re being competitive and we’re just really never out of a game because of how much we compete on the mound, at the plate, and on defense. It’s been fun so far, and we got to keep this thing going.”
