by Carrie Moritz and staff reports
While it looked as though the team might gather its first win of the season last Wednesday, May 3, the Garretson Blue Dragons watched as the opposing team launched itself ahead in a 10-5 loss to the Chester/Colman-Egan/Flandreau Varsity Fliers in a 7-inning game.
The Blue Dragons lost despite out-hitting the Fliers ten to six.
In the first inning, the Fliers got their offense started when Treyton Decker's wild pitch allowed one run to score.
Garretson Blue Dragons tallied four runs in the third inning, nearly tying the score at 4-5. The Dragons' big bats in the inning were led by singles by Ian Buettner, Treyton Chester, and JaNathian Malone.
Unfortunately, the Fliers soon took off with the lead, scoring three runs in the fourth inning. They scored their runs on a double by the Fliers' Kolby Peters. Peters went 2-for-4 at the plate to lead [Chester/Colman-Egan/Flandreau in hits.]
Peters got the start for Chester/Colman-Egan/Flandreau Varsity Fliers. The pitcher lasted four and a third innings, allowing six hits and four runs while striking out seven and walking one.
Decker was on the hill for Garretson Blue Dragons. The righty allowed six hits and nine runs over four innings, striking out five. Cole Jessen threw three innings out of the bullpen.
Overall, the Garretson Blue Dragons collected ten hits. Buettner, Malone, and Decker all grabbed multiple hits for Garretson Blue Dragons. Chester, Cole Jessen, Buettner, and Carson Clark each crossed the home plate.
Shaking off their loss, the Garretson Blue Dragons traveled to Sioux Falls on Friday, May 5. Unfortunately, the Garretson Blue Dragons struggled to contain the high-powered offense of the Chargers, ending the game with a score of 0-11.
Sioux Falls Christian opened up scoring in the bottom of the first inning, when Jacob Sanderson singled on a 2-0 count, allowing A. Connell to score one run.
A single by Clark in the first inning was a positive for Garretson.
Sanderson got the start for the Chargers. The pitcher went five innings, allowing zero runs on two hits, striking out 11 and walking zero.
Clark toed the rubber for the Blue Dragons. The pitcher went four innings, allowing 11 runs on nine hits and striking out three.
Buettner and Clark each collected one hit to lead Garretson.
Sioux Falls Christian totaled nine hits. Gabe Long and Austin Connell each managed multiple hits for the Chargers. Long went 3-for-3 at the plate to lead in hits, and the Chargers stole nine bases during the game.
Getting back onto the home field, the Dragons faced off with the Lennox Varsity Orioles on Saturday, May 6. Despite a double in the bottom of the 6th inning, Garretson was unable to score more than 2 points to the Orioles' 13.
Their offense smoking, Lennox scored in the top of the 1st inning on a single by Braedon Wulf, a single by Musser, and a single by Hanneman in the first inning as four Orioles crossed the plate.
Jessen toed the rubber for Garretson Blue Dragons. The pitcher allowed 13 hits and nine runs over four innings, striking out three. Chester threw two innings out of the bullpen.
Conner Eich led things off on the pitcher's mound for Lennox. The pitcher surrendered zero runs on one hit over four innings, striking out eight and walking zero.
Lennox racked up 18 hits on the day. Musser, Wulf, Butler, Talen Eich, Bambas, and Hanneman each collected multiple hits, with Musser going 3-for-5 at the plate to lead in hits. They ran wild on the base paths with eight stolen bases.
Decker, Chester, Tyler Erickson, Dylan Wolf, and Clark each managed one hit to lead the Blue Dragons. The team was sure-handed and didn't commit a single error. Clark made the most plays with eight. Decker and Chester crossed the plate, giving the Blue Dragons their points.
With three games left on the schedule, the Blue Dragons will likely work hard to end the season on a high note. They play the Dell Rapids Quarriers on Friday at 6:30 p.m. at Tandberg Field in Garretson.
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