Rapid City, SD – The Post 22 Hardhats put together an exciting performance Wednesday night at Fitzgerald Stadium, defeating Post 15 West 7-5 in a game that featured big hits, strong defensive plays, and a thrilling comeback that kept fans cheering until the final out.
Post 15 West struck first after a scoreless opening inning. They pushed one run across in the second inning and another in the third to take a 2-0 lead. The Hardhats were held quiet early, but they never let the game get out of reach.
One of the biggest defensive moments came in the top of the second inning when the Hardhats turned a smooth double play. #13 Brixton Steen and #15 Reegan Turnquist worked together perfectly to erase the threat and give the team some momentum. The crowd responded with loud applause as the defense showed it was ready for the challenge.
The game changed completely in the bottom of the fourth inning. The Hardhats’ bats came alive in a huge six-run inning that flipped the scoreboard. #25 Josh Elder started the rally with a powerful triple that energized both the dugout and the fans. Soon after, #15 Reegan Turnquist drove in another run with a double, and #14 Hadley Burrus showed great awareness and speed by stealing home. The explosive inning gave the Hardhats a 6-2 advantage and shifted all the momentum in their favor.
Post 15 West refused to give up. They were able to keep the pressure on throughout the game and looked for opportunities to climb back into the contest.
Another highlight came in the top of the fifth inning when the Hardhats made another outstanding defensive play. Center fielder #19 Lars Kieffer fired a strong throw to catcher #25 Josh Elder, who applied the tag for an impressive out at home plate. The play stopped a scoring chance and kept the Hardhats comfortably in front.
The scoring continued in the sixth inning. Post 15 West collected three runs in the top half of the inning to pull within one run, making the game even more exciting. But the Hardhats answered right back in the bottom of the sixth. #10 Aiden Roberts blasted a triple into the outfield and later came around to score, giving Post 22 an important insurance run and extending the lead to 7-5.
Post 15 West finished with 5 runs on 10 hits, while the Hardhats totaled 7 runs on 11 hits. The scoreboard reflected how competitive the game was from start to finish. Although the Hardhats were held scoreless through the first three innings, their six-run fourth inning proved to be the difference. Post 15 West made one final push in the sixth, but the Hardhats held on through the seventh inning to secure the victory.
The combination of timely hitting, aggressive baserunning, and clutch defense made it a fun game to watch for fans of all ages. Every inning seemed to bring another exciting moment, from the early double play to the huge fourth-inning rally and the outstanding throw from center field to home plate.
With another win added to their season, the Post 22 Hardhats showed why they continue to be a tough team to beat. Their ability to stay composed after falling behind and respond with big plays on both offense and defense helped them earn an exciting 7-5 victory over Post 15 West at Floyd Fitzgerald Stadium.
