Rod's Wednesday Take N Things

Wouldn't you know it. Once again weather struck and cost Pierre Post 8 an American Legion baseball victory last night. After losing to Mitchell 10-6, Pierre was playing a team that stands between them and a trip to the state tournament at Hyde Stadium. Rapid City Post 320. And Pierre was hitting the ball with authority. They scored 3 runs in the first inning off of Zach Cimburek, a pitcher Post 8 was seeing for the third time this season, and a pitcher who had shut them down in the previous 2 matchups. After allowing Post 320 a run in the top of the first, Pierre answered with 3 runs in the bottom of the frame to take a 3-1 lead. Post 320 answered with a run in the third and another in the 4th inning to tie the game. But Pierre came back in the bottom of the 4th. They scored a run to take a 4-3 lead and they had the bases loaded with 1 out, when lightning struck to close to the field. The umpires (Paul Titze and Terry Keller) motioned both teams to their dugouts. After covering the mound and home plate area with tarp, the players came out and took it off. It looked like the game was going to continue. But alas, the clouds filled in, it started to rain and the game was called. Pierre did not get the win because it was not an official game. For a 7 inning game to be official, you have to play 4 complete innings. Post 320 got bailed out by mother nature, and much like the game against Bismark last month, Pierre was stopped by the weather just when it looked as if they were making a move. So, Pierre will not play Post 320 anymore this regular season. And the next time they meet, if they do, will be on the Post 320 home field and a trip to the state tournament will probably be on the line in a couple of weeks from tomorrow night.

Post 8 still has alot of baseball to play though til the Region tournament. They have the Post 22 Expos, a team that beat Pierre back in late May, tonight in Pierre. They have 5 games this weekend and 6 next week with doubleheaders on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. Tuesday will be a triangular with Sturgis and Spearfish at Sturgis. Thursday at Aberdeen and Saturday afternoon at Huron. And although the Post 8 record is 18-19, there is still plenty of baseball to get things going the right way.