{gallery}08_03_10/pioneers{gallery} The Powell Pioneers storm the field in celebration of their second Class A state title on Friday in Sheridan. After falling behind 5-4, Powell scored nine unanswered runs to repeat as state champs. Tribune photo by Ben Wetzel Powell tops Sheridan to reach title gameWhen they met in the opening round of North District tournament play, the Sheridan Troopers stunned Powell by vaulting to a seven-run lead before Powell rallied for a 13-11 victory. Meeting in a state elimination game last Friday, the Pioneers made certain there would be no repeat. Powell jumped on the tournament host Troopers early and often, building a 12-0 lead and cruising to a 15-7 victory that ultimately set the stage for a Class A title contest against Laramie.

“It was important for us to go out early and get on the scoreboard,” said Pioneers coach Mike Jameson.

As it turns out, Powell did just that. The first three Pioneer batters reached base safely before Scotty Jameson delivered a sacrifice fly RBI. After a walk to load the bases, Colter Bostick chased in a pair of runs with a double to give Powell a 3-0 lead.

Powell added two more runs in the third, three in the fifth and four in the top of the sixth inning for a 12-0 lead before the Troopers cracked the scoring column. After allowing just one hit through the first five innings of action, Powell starting pitcher Colter Bostick encountered a momentary bump in the road as Sheridan tagged him for five hits and six runs in the sixth.

The Pioneers immediately recovered three of the six runs in their next at-bat. Bostick reverted to early game form, surrendering just two more hits and one more Sheridan run over the final three innings.

For the contest, Bostick fanned seven Troopers while allowing just one walk and eight hits. He also finished 2-for-5 at the plate with a team-high four RBIs. Jameson finished 4-for-4 with a pair of doubles and two RBIs. Colt Nix, batting at the bottom of Powell's lineup, delivered a 3-for-5 performance that chased three runs across the plate.

Every member of the Pioneers' batting order finished with at least one hit in the contest as the team punished Sheridan pitching to the tune of 18 hits.

The Pioneers were relegated to the elimination side of the bracket on Thursday with a 16-1 loss to eventual Wyoming Class AA state champion, Cheyenne Post 6. Powell fell behind 11-0 in the contest and was never able to fight their way back against the much larger foe.

Cheyenne scored four runs in both the first and third innings and sandwiched a three-run frame between them. Powell's lone run came in the third as starting pitcher Colt Nix drew a lead-off walk and successfully navigated the bases to score.

The Pioneers managed just four hits off Cheyenne pitching as Olie Olson, Grant Geiser, Scotty Jameson and Colter Bostick connected. Bostick's second-inning double was the lone extra-base hit in the game and, aside from Nix, produced the only other Pioneer runner to reach scoring position.