In Carson Ohl’s 5th start of the season he went 6 innings allowing only 1 run on a solo home run, no walks, and 7 strikeouts to get the 4th straight winning decision for him and the 8th straight win for the Pioneers. Ohl is now 4-1 on the season and with 7 games left until the end of the first half, him and the Pioneers bats have them at the top of the Clark Division and Expedition League at 19-5.
Zach Camp had the start for the Tommyknockers and started hot but slowed down after allowing the first 2 runs of the game on a pair of errors in the 2nd, and then two more on a wild pitch and RBI single from Alex Zerfass to put the Pios on top 4-0. Mining City would get one back on a league leading 8th HR of the year from Carter Dobrinski, and Carson Ohl would finish 6 innings ahead 4-1.
Jaydon Tomas would pitch a 1-2-3 top half of the 7th, and the Pios would go to work after the stretch, picking up 3 runs on an error and a Tyler Davis RBI single, putting the Pioneers on top by 6. The Tommyknockers would answer with 4 in the 8th, on back-to-back 2 RBI extra base hits which made it 7-5, but once again Western Nebraska responds to runs in the top half with 4 of their own in the bottom, off of a moonshot grand slam from Cade McGee to add much needed insurance.
Mining City would leave the bases loaded in the 9th as Cade McGee came on and got the final 2 outs via the strikeout, and the Pios would win 11-6. The magic number for the Pioneers is now 7 as they need a combination of 7 wins and Fremont/Spearfish losses to grab first place in the first half and lock down the playoff bid. Game two of the series is Wednesday night at 6:35 and it’s fill-the-park night, meaning fans can grab tickets from Twin City Motors, Anytime Fitness, Dale’s Tire and Retreading, Flyover Brewery, Pipeworks Plumbing, Schank Roofing, Murdoch’s Ranch and Home Supply, Bluffs Physical Therapy, and Ideal Linen. First pitch is at 6:35, and the broadcast goes live on YouTube and KNEB at 6:20.
