Spearfish Post 164 Sr. Legion and Post 320 Stars traded wins in a Friday doubleheader at Black Hills Power Sports Complex, with Spearfish grinding out a low-scoring victory in Game 1 before falling in a lopsided nightcap.
In the opener, Spearfish leaned on timely hitting from the bottom of its lineup and a strong pitching performance to secure a 3-1 win. Owen Bruner, Cooper Chase, and Luke Poling helped spark the offense, combining for four of the team’s eight hits while contributing two runs.
Spearfish struck early, taking a 1-0 lead in the first inning on a wild pitch. Post 320 answered in the fourth, capitalizing on a Spearfish error to tie the game at 1-1. The tie didn’t last long, as Spearfish responded in the bottom half of the inning when Chase delivered an RBI single to regain the lead at 2-1.
From there, pitcher Sean Sewell kept Post 320 in check. Sewell worked six innings, allowing just two hits and one unearned run while striking out two to earn the win. Walker Viessman closed out the game with a scoreless seventh inning. Defensively, Spearfish also turned a key double play to help preserve the advantage.
Bruner, Chase, and Jack Scharf each collected two hits in the victory, while Darin Crooks added an RBI and swiped two bases. Post 320 showed patience at the plate with seven walks, but couldn’t generate enough offense to overcome Spearfish’s pitching.
Game 2 told a much different story.
Post 320 jumped on Spearfish early and never let up, rolling to a 10-0 victory to earn a split. Spearfish struggled defensively in the rematch, with early miscues helping Post 320 build momentum. The Stars put up runs in the first inning behind a combination of an error, a groundout, and an RBI single to quickly take control.
They extended the lead in the second inning when Ayden Byrd launched a two-run home run to right field, highlighting a strong offensive attack. Byrd, Tegan Sayles, and Laken Uttecht each collected two hits, while Sayles and Byrd drove in two runs apiece.
On the mound, Post 320 pitchers kept Spearfish’s offense quiet. Colton Sayles picked up the win in a short outing, and the staff combined to hold Spearfish scoreless while limiting opportunities throughout the game.
Spearfish managed just two hits, both coming from Viessman, who went 2-for-2 at the plate in the loss. Viessman also started on the mound, pitching four innings as Spearfish struggled to slow Post 320’s bats and overcome defensive issues.
The split showcased two very different games for Spearfish — one defined by efficient pitching and clutch situational hitting, and the other by early deficits and missed opportunities.
Spearfish Post 164 will look to bounce back when it returns to action Thursday, when they host the Allen Tellinghuisen Senior Legion Tournament, which will run through Sunday. Fans can watch every Spearfish Post 164 game in the four-day tournament on KDSJ-TV on YouTube and on Facebook.
Rewatch Game #1: https://www.youtube.com/live/OoOd0xoKWwE?si=g1oF9TIVg1WccF4S
Rewatch Game #2: https://www.youtube.com/live/ZQK3ZRK1iGs?si=4xeMWAA_NMv0gsBK
