Rapid City, SD – The Post 22 Hardhats put together a complete team performance Friday night, defeating the Renner Post 307 Royals 8-4 at Fitzgerald Stadium in Rapid City. A big offensive surge early in the game, combined with solid defense and timely hitting, helped the Hardhats stay in control from the first pitch to the final out.
Post 22 got off to a quick start on June 26th, scoring the first run of the game in the opening inning while holding the Royals off the scoreboard. That early momentum carried into the second, where the Hardhats broke the game open with four more runs. The Royals managed to answer with one run, but Post 22 finished the inning with a commanding 5-1 lead.
The third inning turned into a defensive battle as neither team was able to score. The highlight came in the field for the Hardhats when first baseman #15 Reegan Turnquist and second baseman #3 Jaxson Reeder teamed up to turn a clean double play to end the inning. The momentum-shifting play brought energy to the dugout and kept the Royals from building any offense.
The Hardhats went right back to work in the fourth inning. #9 Hudson Ogle started the rally with a hard-hit double before #10 Aiden Roberts followed with another double to keep runners in scoring position. Moments later, #3 Jaxson Reeder ripped a single and aggressively advanced all the way to third base, putting even more pressure on the Royals’ defense.
Those key hits helped Post 22 score two more runs in the inning. Although Renner added another run of its own, the Hardhats extended their advantage to 7-2 and continued to control the pace of the game.
Both teams crossed the plate once in the fifth inning, making the score 8-3. The Royals fought back with one final run in the sixth, but the Hardhats’ defense answered every challenge. Strong communication in the field and routine defensive plays prevented Renner from putting together a late comeback.
With the Hardhats comfortably in front, the game was called in the seventh inning, sealing an 8-4 victory for Post 22.
The win was fueled by contributions across the lineup. Ogle and Roberts each delivered doubles that sparked the offense, while Reeder made an impact on both sides of the ball with his third-inning double play and aggressive baserunning after reaching on a single. Turnquist also played a key role defensively, helping shut down a Royals scoring opportunity with the inning-ending double play.
Friday night’s win showed the Hardhats at their best. They jumped on scoring opportunities early, played clean defense, and stayed focused from start to finish. By combining aggressive offense with reliable defense, Post 22 earned another impressive victory in front of the home crowd at Fitzgerald Stadium and continued to build momentum as the season moves forward.
