In the most exciting game of the weekend, it was the Alliance Peltz Co Spartans Senior team downing Post 370 Shooters of Rapid City 8 to 7 in ball game played in Alliance Saturday evening. The Spartans trailed 7 to 0 early in the contest before rallying for the win. Alliance catcher Mikey Johnson singled home the winning run in the bottom of the sixth to complete the comeback. Centerfielder Espen Lanik led the Peltz Co squad with 3 hits. Alliance got 3 shutout innings in relief from Cody Galles who got the win.
Early on it was all the guests from Rapid. The Shooters jumped out to an early 5 to 0 lead in the top of the opening inning. Rapid City used three hits, a couple of walks, and an Alliance error to plate 5 runs. A double by Lanik began things for the Spartans in the home half of the first but unfortunately he was stranded and after one inning of play, Alliance trailed 5 to 0. Relief pitcher Kegan Nelson began the second for the Spartans and gave up 2 runs on 3 hits. Meanwhile the Peltz Co went 1-2-3 in the second and after 2 innings, Rapid led 7 to 0.
Nelson was sharp in the third holding the Shooters to no runs on no hits to keep Alliance close. The Spartan bats would come alive in the bottom of the third with 3 straight hits. First baseball Jackson Smith started the rally with a leadoff single. It was followed by a double by second baseman Jaxson Martinez. Lanik then cleared the bases with a 2 run triple to get Alliance of the board. Galles then scored Lanik with an RBI groundout. Heading to the fourth the Rapid lead was cut to 7 to 3. Three more Spartan runs made things interesting in the bottom of the fourth. Designated hitter Nason Thompson began the scoring with a single. Back to back hit batters then loaded the bases for Smith who singled, scoring run #4. Martinez then sliced the Peltz Co deficit to just one with a 2 RBI single.
The next 3 batters failed to reach and the contest went to the fifth with Alliance trailing only by 1 at 7 o 6. Galles would record 2 strikeouts in the fifth as the Shooters failed to score. The Spartans also failed to score in their fifth and the game went to the final inning with Rapid still out in front 7 to 6. Another K by Galles ended a scoreless top of the sixth, giving the Spartans a chance.
A leadoff walk by Kobe Strom set the stage for the Alliance walk off. A sac bunt by Smith followed and a single by Martinez tied the game at 7. Another Lanik hit got Martinez in scoring position. From there Johnson capped off the comeback with a solid single to right to that scored Martinez with the game winner. Final Alliance 8 Rapid City 7
RC 5 2 0 0 0 0 7
ALL 0 0 3 3 0 2 8
Pitching for Alliance Kaden Ferguson, Nelson Galles-winner, hits Lanik 3, Smith 2, Martinez 2, Thompson 1, Johnson1-game winner