Post 33 out of Sturgis held off a seventh inning comeback by the Navy team and downed the Spartans 8 to 7 in baseball action on Sunday in Chadron. The Peltz Co was down 8 to 3 in the final frame but pushed 4 across to close within 1 before the Missiles got the last out. With the loss, the Spartans have a 18-21-2 record on the season. Alliance started the Chadron tourney with a win over Valentine on Friday but finished the weekend with tough losses to Rapid City, Spearfish, and Sturgis. The Navy squad had an impressive 14 hits for the game. Three Spartans-Fletcher Moseman, Miguel Galvan, and Teagan O’Gorman-ended with 3 hits apiece. Galvan started the game and went 4 frames with O’Gorman tossing the last 3.
Galvan had a strong start on the bump for Alliance as Post 33 failed to score in the top of the first. Alliance used three hits in the bottom of the inning to plate 3. Knocks by Israel Garcia, Carson Stull, and Galvan helped the Peltz Co take a 3 to 0 lead. The Missiles then stormed ahead with 4 tallies in the second. Post 33 had four singles, an error by the Spartans, and a wild pitch to take a 4 to 3 advantage. Alliance would get singles in the home half from O’Gorman and Jackson Smith but both runners were stranded.
Inning 3 was a scoreless frame for both teams. In the bottom of the inning, Alliance got a single from Moseman. Sturgis extended its margin in the fourth with one score. Down 5 to 3, the Navy club received a hit from O’Gorman in the bottom of the inning. Inning 5 saw O’Gorman blank the Missiles on the hill while the Spartans also went scoreless. Moseman and Galvan would single for Alliance and get left on the bases.
In the sixth, Post 33 increased its lead with 2 more scores. A big 2 RBI single made the game a 7 to 3 contest. Garcia had a hit for the Peltz Co in the home half but didn’t score. One more Sturgis tally in their final at bat put the Spartan deficit at 5. In the bottom of the finale, the Navy club made things very interesting. Hits by Stull, Moseman, and Galvan loaded the sacks. A passed ball and a walk by Reese Muhr gave Alliance hope. A miscue by the Missiles made it an 8 to 6 battle. The Navy club’s last score came with a steal of home before the final out was recorded. Final Sturgis 8 Alliance 7
Post 33 0 4 0 1 0 2 1 8
Spartans 3 0 0 0 0 0 4 7
14 hits for the Peltz Co three each O’Gorman, Moseman, Galvan, two apiece Garcia and Stull, one hit for Smith.