CREIGHTON – Creighton was definitely the place to be this past weekend for American Legion Baseball action as 9 teams were in action for the Berry Pepper tournament June 14th – 16th! Five seniors teams competing were Tri-County, Creighton, Albion, PWG, and Wagner, SD. Four juniors teams competing were Tri-County, Creighton, Albion, and PWG.
The Titans made the short trip over to Creighton for action all three days in either juniors or seniors games. In the first game on Friday the junior Titans played Albion and lost the game 2-11. Max Bruce was the starting pitcher and went the distance allowing 11 runs on 9 hits and 6 BBs while striking out 4 batters. As has been the story for the junior Titans of late… Tri-County kept the score close or even tied for much of the game only to see the opponent put up one big inning to take control of the game. In this game, Albion erupted for 8 runs in the 3rd inning to put their lead out of reach.
Tri-County game stats:
Levi Hoferer 0-2 batting, 1 BB.
Max Bruce 1-3 batting.
Ryan Rifer 1-2 batting, 1 BB.
A.J. Hobbs 2-3 batting, 1 2B, 1 run.
Isaac Hoferer 1-3 batting, 1 run.
Landon Nelson 1-2 batting, 1 HBP.
Jason Shaver 0-3 batting.
Rogan Robertson 3-3 batting, 1 RBI.
Isaac Pavlik 2-3 batting, 1 RBI.
In day 2 of the tournament (Saturday) the Titan seniors started the day by playing Albion, a Class B powerhouse. Tri-County hung tough for three innings before Albion’s bats broke out and took control winning the game 0-15. The senior Titan bats were making solid contact but most of the time right at Albion’s defense. Tri-County did muster 3 hits (two for A.J. Hobbs and one for Isaac Pavlik).
Later in that same day Tri-County’s junior team played Creighton/Bloomfield for the consolation championship and lost a very competitive game 4-9. A.J. Hobbs and Ryan Rifer were the junior Titan pitchers. The 4th inning proved to be the deciding inning as Creighton/Bloomfield scored 5 runs. Only 4 runs were scattered throughout the remainder of the game. Tri-County scored 1 run (Landon Nelson) in the 2nd inning due to a Jacob Pierzina RBI. Then A.J. Hobbs & Isaac Hoferer scored in the 3rd (Hoferer & Rogan Robertson RBIs). Max Bruce scored in the 4th (Ryan Rifer RBI). But it was another chapter in the junior Titan story of leaving bases loaded to close out 2 separate innings! That is a lot of runs left on the bases.
Tri-County game stats:
Levi Hoferer 0-4 batting.
Max Bruce 1-3 batting, 1 2B, 1 run, 1 HBP, 1 stolen base.
Ryan Rifer 1-4 batting, 1 RBI, 1 stolen base.
A.J. Hobbs 2-3 batting, 1 run, 1 HBP, 4 stolen bases.
Isaac Hoferer 0-3 batting, 1 run, 1 RBI, 1 BB, 1 stolen base.
Landon Nelson 1-2 batting, 1 run, 1 HBP.
Rogan Robertson 1-3 batting, 1 RBI.
Isaac Pavlik 2-3 batting.
Jacob Pierzina 1-2 batting, 1 RBI, 1 BB.
In day 3 of the tournament (Sunday) the Titan seniors were back in action vs. Wagner, SD in an 11:00 am game, and the 2023 South Dakota state runners-up did not disappoint! Wagner scored 8 runs in the first inning and went on to win the game 8-0. After getting shell-shocked in the first inning, the Titans tightened up the defense and Wyatt Shabram came in relief to tame the hot-hitting Wagner bats. Only one Wagner baserunner was allowed the rest of the game. Offensively, it was the same story for Tri-County as the game before, getting the bat on the ball but hitting it right to the defense.
Tri-County game stats:
Connor Thomson 0-2 batting.
Wyatt Shabram 0-2 batting.
Ryan Rifer 1-2 batting.
A.J. Hobbs 0-2 batting.
Isaac Pavlik 0-2 batting.
Riley Saul 0-2 batting.
Landon Nelson 0-1 batting, 1 BB.
Isaac Hoferer 1-2 batting.
Kaiden Bauer 0-1 batting.
Landon McAllister 0-1 batting.
Tri-County is back in action Friday, June 21 at Plainview for a Jr./Sr. double header at 5:30 & 8:00 pm. Then the senior Titans travel to Atkinson Tuesday, June 25 for a 7:00 pm game. Friday sees the senior Titans playing at Stanton Friday, June 28 at 7:00 pm.
Other scores from Berry Pepper Days Tournament
Friday:
Tri-County juniors 2
Albion juniors 11
Albion seniors 23
Creighton/Bloomfield seniors 1
Saturday:
Tri-County seniors 0
Albion seniors 15
PWG juniors 8
Creighton/Bloomfield juniors 6
Albion seniors 1
Wagner, SD seniors 5
Tri-County juniors 4
Creighton/Bloomfield juniors 9
Albion juniors 8
PWG juniors 3
Sunday:
Tri-County seniors 0
Wagner, SD seniors 8
Wagner, SD seniors 1
PWG seniors 4
Story by Jeff Shabram
