Game Wraps

PIERRE, SD – As Trappers fans settled in for the top of the 9th inning with their team up 2-1, they expected to leave the ballpark early. However, the Hastings Sodbusters (1-2) had different plans.An RBI-single from JT Cafferty tied the game at two a piece and a quick 1-2-3 bottom of the 9th sent the game into extra innings.For the Pierre Trappers (1-0), it wasn’t just their first home game of the 2021 Expedition League season, it was their season opener. And with only 17 players in Pierre at first pitch, the team’s work was cut out for them early on.The team had to turn to Jakob Newman, an intern for the Trappers who was forced to suit up due to the shortage of players.He’s not without experience, though. Newman pitches for Brandeis University near Boston. However, Newman wasn’t called to be on the mound, instead head coach Monterio May gave him the nod to start in center field. After picking up a single early in the contest, his unexpected impact was felt in late stages of Tuesday night’s ballgame.After Braeden Cordes singled to lead off the bottom of the 10th inning with his team down by one, it was Newman who laid down the sacrifice bunt to push Cordes into scoring position. Two batters later, Cole Yancey’s double drove in Cordes to tie the game and force an 11th frame.A sacrifice-fly from the Sodbusters in the top of the 11th gave the team another one-run lead.But again, it was Newman in a big spot for the Trappers with the bases loaded and one away in the frame.Newman lifted a high fly ball to center field that was deep enough to drive in Cardoso from third to tie the ball game at four.The next batter, Tyler Skelton, reached on an error by the shortstop. The error allowed Brendon Perez to score the game-winning run as the Trappers took their season opener 5-4.While the drama at Hyde Stadium took everyone’s breath away for the three innings, the beginning stages of the game set the stage.Starting pitcher for Pierre, Nick McCollum, struck out 12 of the 15 outs he recorded on the night. Starting left fielder Kaiden Cardoso launched a ball over the right-centerfield wall for his first home run of the season, giving Pierre an early 1-0 lead.In fact, it was Cardoso, who switched from left field to pitcher in the 10th inning, that recorded the win as a pitcher in relief. He pitched two innings, allowing a run per frame, but kept it close enough so that his team could break out the bats to walk-off the Busters.The two teams return tomorrow to play in game two of the series at 7:05.

--Tyler Katz 

PIERRE, SD - Well, this was a weird one. 

Even before the first pitch was thrown in what turned out to be a blow out by the Hastings Sodbusters, this game was shaping up to be an interesting one by anyone's standards. We had a national anthem standoff between two players before a pitch was thrown and after that this game spiraled into all sorts of crazy places. Adrian Lopez started the game, making his first appearance for the Trappers, and allowed 5 runs (3 earned) off 2 hits and four walks, striking out 2. He had to battle pretty significant rain which appeared to only show up when he was on the mound in the first inning of the game. The Trappers were able to plate 7 runs in the bottom of the first as the Sodbuster's starting pitcher Edwardo Vasquez had loads of trouble finding the strike zone. The Dominican born pitcher out of Trinidad State allowed 7 runs, one of which was earned, on four walks and a hit. Vasquez was chased from the game after recording two outs in the first and was replaced by Manny Herrera, who gave up a base-clearing 3 RBI double to Tyler Skelton before recording the last out of a first inning that would set the tone for the rest of the game as a night in which pitchers had a very difficult time finding the strike zone. Then in the second, after Lopez allowed a run to score without recording an out, the game had to take a 30 minute pause for lightning. The game resumed with Brendon Perez taking the mound who continued the trend of poor control by Trappers pitching. Perez got through 2 1/3 innings of work and allowed 9 more runs to score (only 5 earned) on 2 hits and 10 walks. He was able to work out of a jam in the third, keeping the Sodbusters scoreless for the first time in the game, but the Trappers were unable to respond with any offense as Herrera held it down for Hastings. Then in the 4th inning, things took a turn for the much worse. Hastings was able to put up 11 runs in this nightmare inning for Pierre on 6 hits, an error, 7 walks and a hit batsmen. Perez one out in the inning before being replaced by Cole Yancy, the first of 5 position players that were called on to pitch in this game. He also was able to record an out, but he too could not finish the inning and was replaced by the shortstop Tyler Skelton, who gave up an RBI single to JT Cafferty (who would later pitch) and struck out Treyton Kozal to end the carnage. The rest of the game featured position players getting on the mound to record the rest of the 27 outs and the losing pitcher from last night Rans Sanders getting an at-bat. Three more runs by the Sodbusters and two more from the Trappers in the 5th accounted for the rest of the offense in this game as our final score was 23-9 Sodbusters. 

Carson Cahoy continued to stay hot, picking up two more hits as his average on the year goes to .389. Mattson and Riley both picked up 3 RBIs and Kozal went 2-4 with 2 RBIs. Manny Herrera, after getting a save in the Hastings series against the Freemont Moo, held it down for most of the game, facing 21 batters, striking out 4 and allowing 2 runs off 3 hits before the floodgates opened for position players to take the mound in the form of JT Cafferty and Tyler Monroe, both of whom did not allow a run and combined for 7 strikeouts. 

Skelton went 3-6 with three RBIs in an impressive showing at the plate that was accompanied by an inning and a third on the mound where he struck out 3. Nick Hamel finished up the game on the mound, pitching 4 scoreless innings allowing 2 hits and striking out 8. The Trappers saw RBIs from Cordes, Sorge, Yancey, and Newman but left a new season high 11 baserunners on base after leaving 10 in last nights contest. 

These two teams will meet for the rubber match on Thursday (assuming rain does not get in the way) at 7:05 Central. 

--Jakob Newman 

PIERRE, SD – Fans at Hyde Stadium were treated to another close contest as the Western Nebraska Pioneers (3-1) settled into the batter’s box in the 8th inning tied with the Pierre Trappers (1-2) at four a piece. Three consecutive Pioneers reached base to start the inning leaving Trapper’s pitcher Brent Bramlet in a jam with nobody out in the inning and the bases loaded. That’s when the Pioneers struck gold. 

It was a hot start in the 1st for the Trappers after Tyler Skelton singled and later came around to score on a Brock Rinehart sacrifice fly into center field. The Trappers held onto this thin one-run lead until the 5th inning. Until that point, Ryun Cross in his first start for the team was dealing striking out six in his five innings of work. In the fifth inning, the Pios struck for three runs off the back of three Trappers errors in the inning to take their first lead in the ball game at the halfway point 3-1. 

The Trappers struck back. Immediately after falling into their first deficit of the ballgame back-to-back singles by Braden Sorge and Cole Yancey gave the Trappers an opportunity. After a passed ball that pushed runners to second and third, an RBI-groundout by Brendon Perez brought the Trappers within a run with two away in the inning and Yancey at third base. Jakob Newman grounded a ball up the third-base line where Pioneers third baseman Cade McGee committed the fourth error of the ballgame for the Pios. Yancey came into score and tied the ballgame at three.

A quick and quiet sixth led to an eventful seventh, a leadoff single by Western Nebraska’s Daulton Frank, and a quick RBI-single two batters later by Kip Gronholz gave the Pios yet another lead 4-3. Again, the Trappers struck back off another Newman RBI, this time via the sac fly. However, as Braden Sorge crossed the plate to tie the ballgame at four, he hopped up on one foot and went down in front of the Trapper’s on deck circle holding his right thigh in pain. Trainers helped Sorge to his feet as he hopped on his left foot back into the dugout, he did not see game action after that point as Bennett Osborn subbed in defensively in centerfield. 

The eighth saw the third Trappers pitcher of the ballgame take in mound in the form of Brent Bramlet. However, unforuntly for the pitcher making his first appearance of the season, seven of the eight batters he faced reached safely and the Pios put up a four spot in the inning doubling their score and led the Trappers 8-4 heading into the ninth. Noah Borwege, who came in relief of Bramlet couldn’t help the cause as five more runs crossed the plate before head coach Monterio May went to position player Kaiden Cardoso to end the Trappers nightmare couple of innings. Cardoso allowed one more run to cross the plate as the Pios scored 11 runs in the final three innings to lead 14-4. 

The Trappers would be able to push one across in the final half inning but it wouldn’t be enough as the visiting team took game one of the series 14-5. Brent Bramlet pitched the loss for Pierre allowing three runs in during his appearance with one of those being the game winning run for the Pios. Derek Brown got the win in relief for Western Nebraska pitching three complete, and three runs to cross for the Trappers. 

After a series split with the Sodbusters in their previous series the Trappers will look for a split with the Pioneers before heading on their first road trip of the season. First pitch will be at 7:05 on Saturday for the series finale.

PIERRE, SD -- The Trappers were coming off a few tough losses when Coach May called a team meeting at 6am before their series finale against the Western Nebraska Pioneers. This clearly lit a fire under the team because the team came out ready to play in front of their home fans. They were able to push a run home in the first inning, as they often do, with a sacrifice fly by Brock Rinehart. Adrian Lopez came out and limited the damage, only giving up 3 runs across 5 frames, giving up 3 hits, 3 walks and struck out 4. The Pios were going with a bullpen day, with no pitcher going further than 2 innings of work. The Pios offense came roaring back in the fourth inning when they took a 3-1 lead thanks to more Trappers errors, but in the same inning Rinehart came up big again with an RBI single to score Brendon Perez against pitcher (and second baseman yesterday) Charlie Deeds. Tyler Lubin was able to hold it down again, going 3 scoreless innings only allowing 1 hit and 1 walk. The 6AM meeting really became significant in the 8th inning when, down by 2 runs, the Trappers had Kaiden Cordoso on second and Jakob Newman on first when Brock Rinehart brought them both home with a 2 RBI double into right center field, which was exactly the kind of energy that the Trappers needed after two brutal games where nothing went their way. Brock was brought home when Thomas McKenna reached on an error which pulled the first baseman off the base which allowed Nick Hamel to close the door and earn the save. It was a good win for the Trappers that limited the walks and errors that we have unfortunately grown accustom to seeing in this young season. The Trappers will go on their first road trip on Monday for a two game set against the Spearfish Sasquatch. 

--Jakob Newman 

SPEARFISH, SD – On their first road trip of the season the Pierre Trappers (2-4) looked to get off to a hot start against the Spearfish Sasquatch (6-1). In game one of the series, they got their wish. Well, not at first. With Trapper’s opening day starter Nick McCollum on the bump for the first time since, the Sasquatch jumped on a slow start my McCollum scoring three to give the home crowd something to cheer about in the first inning. 

Down 3-0, the Trappers bounced back, scoring three of their own in the second inning and tying the game. Later, the Trappers would push across two runs in the fifth in the sixth innings, mostly matched however by the Sasquatch. Entering the final third of the game, the Trappers led 7-6. The bullpens for both Spearfish and Pierre were lights out, as neither team could push a run across in the eight inning. Trappers’ pitcher Brent Bramlet after a rough outing against Western Nebraska, had another opportunity, and after a relatively painless eight inning, Coach May had faith in the reliever out of Spokane and left him in to try for the six-out save. 

The ‘Squatch started the inning with a couple runners on to begin the frame pushing the tying run across with still nobody out in the inning. With a runner at third base, Seth Surrett, playing in his first game of the season for the Sasquatch singled to drive in the winning run, as the Trappers fell in their first road game in walk off fashion 8-7. 

The Trappers headed to the hotel in Spearfish to regroup from the heartbreaking loss at Black Hills Energy Stadium. The sun rose on the 1st of June, and the Trappers had one goal in mind, split the series. It would be their third consecutive series split as both series against Hastings and Western Nebraska ended with each team taking home a win. 

With Jared Shelton on the hill for Pierre, Spearfish again jumped out to an early lead scoring four runs in the opening frame for the home team. It would be more than enough. As Sasquatch pitcher Nico Salidas pitched six scoreless innings against the Trappers facing two away from the minimum as Pierre went three up, three down, in five of the six innings pitched by Salidas. It gave Spearfish enough time to continue building the lead as by the time Salidas was relieved his side was up on the Trappers 10-0. 

It seemed like no Trapper pitcher could solve the hot Spearfish hitters the entire ballgame, until the designated hitter Nick Hamel walked out to the mound for his third appearance of the season. After the first batter he faced cleared the bases on a triple, Hamel locked it down continuing his dominance of allowing no runs so far this season.

The Trappers would add two runs in the ninth inning but it was too little, too late as the Sasquatch took game two by a score of 10-2 to sweep the Trappers in Pierre’s first road trip of the season. 

The Trappers have two days off to regroup in Pierre before taking a bus three hours to the east in the first ever meeting between in-state rivals as the Trappers take on the Sioux Falls Sunfish from Ronken Field on the campus of Augustana University. First pitch is scheduled for 6:35pm in the first home game for the expansion team in Sioux Falls. 

SIOUX FALLS, SD – Sunfish fans packed into Karras Park, Home of Ronken Field in Sioux Falls on Friday night for their team’s first ever game in front of a home crowd, as the Sunfish started the season with seven consecutive games on the road to begin the season. The most of any team in the Expedition League. They were hoping for a win to welcome their team to their new home in the largest city in South Dakota. However, that’s when the Trappers struck in the 1st inning, off to a fast start. 

On a roster in which five of the ten starting Sunfish were seeing action for the first time, both the Pierre Trappers (2-5), and fans of the Sioux Falls Sunfish (3-5) had to play catch up. One of the new members of the Sunfish getting the starting nod, was starting pitcher Matthew Hess who started the first inning got two quick outs against the visiting Trappers before hitting Kaiden Cardoso to get the first baserunner aboard for the Trappers. A Nick Hamel single through the middle pushed runners to the corners in a two out rally. A wild pitch the next batter pushed Cardoso into home and gave the Trappers an early lead.

Confidence was high for the team from Pierre, as it was in everyone’s mind that their opponents had started the season 0-5 and got their two wins off the historically bad Wheat City Whiskey Jacks. The Sunfish would put a run of their own across in the third off a Tanner Wilson RBI-single that scored Benito Garcia. 

Then came the fifth. Two hits by the Sunfish, and two errors in the field by the Trappers, paired with some aggressive baserunning helped the Sunfish secure a three-spot in the bottom half of the fifth that pushed both the Sunfish to a 4-1 lead, and Trappers starting pitcher Ryun Cross from the game. The Sunfish would go on to tack on another run in both the sixth and seventh innings pushing their lead to 6-1. 

In the eighth, the Trappers had to face off against Augustana pitcher, and MLB Draft prospect in Caleb Kranz. Thomas McKenna of the Trappers led the inning off with a single, and it was looking hopeful in the visitor’s dugout that the comeback was possible. However, the only other offense the Trappers would provide that inning was a Cardoso walk as the Trappers left two on base heading into their final three outs. 

Noah Borwege did the job on the mound for the Trappers forcing the Sunfish to go three up, three down. In the top of the ninth, Brendon Perez singled with one away in the inning that gave the Trappers the slightest semblance of life. But that’s all the Trappers were able to put up against Kranz as he shut the door on the next two Trapper batters, as the Sunfish took their home opener against their in-state rivals 6-1. 

The Trappers and Sunfish have to get use to each other as that game in Sioux Falls was the first of six consecutive games between the two teams, and the first of 14 total meetings this season. The Trappers travel back to Pierre tonight, and the Sunfish follow suit tomorrow morning as Sioux Falls and Pierre face off for the first of three from Hyde Stadium tomorrow night. All three games start at 7:05.

PIERRE, SD -- The Trappers came into this game after a road trip to forget. They were losers of their first three road games, the latest of which came against the same Sunfish that traveled to Pierre today to start a three game series at Hyde Stadium. The Trappers knew they needed to make a change on the field so that the season would not spiral. 

Adrian Lopez set out to make that change. 

He came out with a head of steam, not allowing a run until the 8th inning ater he was relieved. Lopez changed the narrative of his season with this start, going 7.2 innings allowing 6 hits, no earned runs, walking 5 and striking out 5 in 119 pitches. He worked deep into the game, utilized his offspeed, and maintained a comfortable pace while the Trapper offense did their thing. In the fifth, Colin Adams doubled and was brought home by Cole Yancey, who also picked up an RBI later in the game by way of a bases loaded walk. Additionally, Tyler Skelton, Thomas McKenna, and Braeden Cordes all picked up RBIs in the 7th and 8th inning, during which the Trappers scored 2 runs in each inning. 

The Sunfish were stifled most of the game, only producing runs in the 8th when Lopez gave up a single and hit a batter before being relieved by Tyler Luban who attempted a pickoff of the runner on third Jonathan Brandon. This allowed the Sunfish's first two runs at Hyde Stadium to score. After Lubin allowed a walk and hit a batter, he finally recorded the third out to limit the damage to just two runs. He came into the 9th with a three run lead and was able to record the final 3 outs. 

Lopez picks up his first win of the season after a masterful performance in front of the home faithful. Nick Caviglia gets the loss after entering the game in the 6th, but giving up the go-ahead runs in the 7th and 8th innings. Luban gets his first save of the season after limited traffic on the basepaths after the error on the pickoff. 

The Trappers get these same Sunfish tomorrow at Hyde Stadium at 7:05 Central as these two teams continue to get familiar with each other.

-- Jakob Newman

PIERRE, SD - The night began in a special way. On a beautiful Sunday evening, Trappers players and coaches were introduced to their own voices as they honored loved ones who have been affected by cancer. With a number of cancer patients and survivors in the crowd, there was a different kind of energy in the ballpark. 

That pre-game energy immediately carried over into the early parts of the ballgame as trappers pushed a run across in the first as Tyler Skelton (14) singled to lead off the bottom of the first, stole second, and scored 4 pitches later as Eric Mast (6) singled to center to give Pierre a 1-0 lead. They would load the bases before the inning was over, but Sunfish starter Andalo Santangelo (22) was able to work out of the Jam limiting the damage to just a single run. Trappers’ starter Nick McCullum (4) worked around several baserunners in the first couple of frames before Sioux Falls capitalized on a number of Pierre mistakes in the third. Declan Beers (3), the nine hole hitter for Sioux Falls, walked to begin the inning. McCullum then struck out the lead off batter in JT Mix (24) before Beers stole second and advanced to third as the throw down from catcher Brock Rinehart (23) sailed into centerfield. Following the error McCullum struck out Mitch Stroh (19) to get a crucial second out of the inning. Jonathan Brandon (31) worked a 2-2 count before McCullum bounced a breaking ball which allowed Beers to score from third and tie the game at one. That is all the SunFish would get in the third. In the bottom half of the inning Piere would once again take the lead scoring 3 in the frame behind singles from Colin Adams (30), Kaiden Cardoso (33), and Nick Strong (35), as well as a hit by pitch and error from Santangelo. McCullum continued to work around damage in the fourth and fifth while Trapper batters were able to tack on a run in both of those innings knocking Sioux falls starter Santangelo out of the game in the fourth, after Braden Cordes (3) was hit by a pitch, stole second and advanced to third on yet another wild pitch. Tyler Skelton then singled to right ending Santaneglo’s night. Sioux Falls turned to their left-handed two way arm in Kenneth Dutka (1). Dutka worked out of trouble in the fourth before allowing back to back two out doubles in the fifth to Jakob Newman (21) and Bennett Osborn (16)

In the sixth McCullum got the first two outs of the inning on just seven pitches before the wheels came off. McCullum proceeded to allow the next four Sioux Falls batter to reach, three via a walk and a single from Ganin Thompson (33) cutting the lead to six to two. Trappers’ manager Monterio May, turned to right hander to Jared Shelton (32) to stop the bleeding. Shelton walked the first man he faced allowing a run to score, and then skipped another pitch to the backstop which allowed the tying run to reach second in a now two run game. That is as close as Sioux falls would get as Shelton Struck out Stroh to end the threat. Shelton would go on to allow only 1 sioux falls runner to reach base the final three innings, while striking out 3 of the final 10 men he faced, earning his first save of the season. Shelton was given some insurance in the seventh behind a trio of hits from Cardoso, Strong and Newman, as well as a sacrifice fly from Rinehart which increased the Trapper lead to four. Shelton closed the door on six pitches in the ninth to secure an 8-4 Trappers’ win. 

    The Trappers’ have now taken the first two games of this three game set and will look to complete the sweep tomorrow night (6/7) at 7:05 CT.

-- Nolan Summerfield

PIERRE, SD – Monday was set up to be a fun day as the Trappers began the night looking to complete a three game sweep over the Sioux Falls Sunfish. This would be the fourth of six in a row against the Sunfish as following tonight’s game, the two teams will head to Sioux Falls for a quick two game set on Wednesday and Thursday. 

            Tonight the Trappers turned to right hander Nick Hamel (17) to get the start against Drew Belew (28)who was on the bump for the Sunfish. Similar to last night, it was a quick start for Pierre. Hamel worked a quick nine pitch top half of the inning before turning it over to leadoff hitter Tyler Skelton (14) to start the scoring in the bottom half. Skelton worked a six pitch walk and then advanced to second on a wild pitch. Eric Mast (6) was able to move Skelton to third with a chopper to the second baseman to put a runner at third with only 1 out. Belew was able to get a crucial strikeout to put pressure on the Trappers’ cleanup hitter Kaiden Cardoso (33) to drive in a run via a hit. That pressure was quickly taken off Cardoso’s back as Belew dirted the second pitch of the at bat past catcher Cade Kalehuawehe (5), scoring Skelton from third. Sioux Falls would get the run back in the top half of the third capitalizing on a leadoff double by Adonis Forte II and an RBI single from Kalehuawehe. Hamel would limit the damage to just one and not allow another run until the sixth. 

            Belew was able to hold Trapper hitters in check for the most part until the fifth when Pierre would use more small ball to push across a pair of runs. The trouble for Belew began with a one out single from left fielder Cole Yancy (20), who then stole second and reached third on a Braden Cordes (3) single to put runner at the corners with just one out. Skelton was unable to drive in a run with a pop up to second, once again giving Belew a golden opportunity to escape without any damage done. Eric Mast was the batter, already 0-2 on the day against Belew. Cordes stole second on the second pitch of the at bat putting two runners in scoring position for Mast who singled to left center on a 2-1pitch driving in both runs and giving the Trappers a 3-1 lead heading to the sixth. 

            The lead would be short lived however as Sioux falls would take full advantage of Trapper miscues. The inning began with a strikeout by Hamel, his second and final of the game, before he walked Jonathon Brandon (31) on eight pitches. A wild pitch would advance him to second before Jesus Licon (36) singled to bring the Sunfish within a run. The speedy Kenneth Dutka (1) placed a bunt perfectly up the third baseline which catcher Nicholas Strong (35) fielded and sailed well over Adams head at first down into the right field corner allowing Licon to score from first and Dutka to reach third with only one out. Hamel was able to do a bit of damage control as he got the final two batters out via a groundball back to the mound and a can of corn flyball to centerfielder Mast. Trapper hitters were able to pick up their starter in bottom half after Sioux Falls turned to their bullpen with Pete Weil (1). After recording the first two outs on just seven pitches, he walked Strong to get to designated hitter Brock Rinehart (23). Rinehard jumped all over a first pitch fastball driving it into the left field corner and past a diving Forte II, scoring Strong and giving the Trappers a 4-3 lead heading into the latter third of the ballgame. 

            That double would be the deciding factor in the ball game as Pierre used three relievers in Noah Borwege (24), Brent Bramlet (19), and in his first appearance with the Trappers: Clay Odenbach (29). Each of them worked around potential trouble before Odenbach closed the door on a 4-3 Trappers’ win completing the three game sweep of the Sunfish. 

            These same two clubs are back in action Wednesday night in Sioux falls at 6:35 CT

-- Nolan Summerfield

SIOUX FALLS, SD – At the end of three innings of play, the Sioux Falls Sunfish (3-9) were feeling hot. They carried a 4-0 lead into the middle third of the ballgame and held the Pierre Trappers (6-5) to two one-two-three innings. Things continued to look bright for the home team entering the top half of the fourth as well. Two quick outs pitched by Sunfish starter Caleb Kranz led fans to believe it would be another typical inning for the Pierre Trappers. That was until Joseph Bramanti in just his second game with the Trappers ever, stepped up to the plate. 

    On their third road trip of the season, the Trappers looked towards not only their fourth straight win after a three-game sweep over the Sunfish at Hyde Stadium, but also their first road victory of the season after dropping their first three contests listed as the visitors. The roadtrip also marked the first game in which Trapper’s outfielder Richie Williams, relief pitcher Mason Wells, and starting pitcher Mason Torve appeared in. Torve had a rough start allowing a run in the first, before opening the flood gates further allowing the Sunfish to push across three in the second in route to a 4-0 lead through two. 

    The Sunfish started hot with a leadoff triple by a new player of their own in Jeff Mejia. A sacrifice fly a batter later pushed the run across, marking the first time the Sunfish pushed across a run in the opening frame against the Trappers. An RBI-single, sacrifice fly, and RBI-groundout pushed across the three Sunfish runs in the second. 

    The fourth inning for the Trappers started like the rest, Sunfish starter Caleb Kranz striking out the first batter. However, an uncharacteristic walk and hit batter pushed a runner into scoring position for the first time in the ballgame for Pierre. A quick flyout a batter later suppressed the Trappers chances of getting on the board. Despite that, Joseph Bramanti in only his second game dressing in a Trappers uniform lined his first base hit of the season into right field. A stand-up double. It pushed two Trapper runners across the plate cutting the deficit in half. 

    In the fifth the Trappers once again benefitted from a hit by pitch as Braeden Cordes reached as the leadoff batter of the inning. Two batters later, the Trappers would cash in on that free pass to first as Eric Mast lined a triple into the outfield that scored Cordes and cut the lead to just one as the Sunfish still led 4-3. On a 1-1 count to Colin Adams, a wild pitch to the backstop allowed Mast to score and tie the ballgame at four a piece. 

    Great pitching by both sides including the debut of Trappers reliever Mason Wells took us into the eighth inning where Wells, already through two innings of work started to tire. A walk and a single, separated by a flyout put runners at first and second with one away in the inning. But a runner in scoring position was all it took for Coach Monterio May to pull the plug and turn to “fireman” Tyler Luban. After a first pitch flyout to put two away in the inning, Luban hit a batter with a pitch loading the bases in a tie ballgame. An extremely tense situation arose when nine-hole batter Benito Garcia stepped into the box in a make-or-break situation for the Sunfish. Garcia worked a full count, creating a nervous energy in both dugouts. Every spectator knew, this pitch decided the game. Garcia struck out swinging as the Pierre dugout erupted in celebration. But there was still work to be done, as the game was still tied 4-4. 

    Brooks Caple came out of the pen for Sioux Falls to try to keep the Trappers at bay in the ninth; and it worked for a moment as the first batter popped out to the first baseman to begin the inning. However, only one domino needed to fall as the next batter Bennett Osborn singled to put the potential game winning run 270 feet away from home. With one away Osborn was given the sign, steal. The Trapper runner took off for second avoiding the tag and giving the Trappers a runner in scoring position. 180 feet away. A flyout to deep center field allowed Osborn to tag up and break for third, safe. 90 feet away. With two away Richie Williams took a 3-1 pitch low in the dirt that got away from the catcher as Osborn made a break for it, safe at home. The Trappers led 5-4. 

    For the second straight game, the Trappers looked to Clay Odenbach to earn the save in a one run ballgame. A pair of strikeouts, one swinging, one looking put the Trappers and out away from the comeback victory over their new in-state rivals. A walk to Zeph Hoffpauir gave the Sunfish an ounce of life, but a popout in foul territory to first baseman Joseph Bramanti ended the game with the Trappers securing the comeback victory 5-4. 

    Despite only pitching two-thirds of an inning Tyler Luban earned the win due to him being the “current pitcher” for the winning team when the winning run crossed the plate. Luban continues to dominate not allowing a non-inherited runner to score this season. He advances to 2-0 on the season, while Sioux Falls reliever Brooks Caple took the loss in his Sunfish debut. Clay Odenbach got the save, his second of the season in as many appearances. 

    The two teams meet again for game two of the two game series at Karras Park on June 10th at 6:35 CT before both teams go their separate ways for the first time in a week.

--Tyler Katz