{gallery}06_09_09/pioneers{/gallery} Scotty Jameson slides across home plate for a run during weekend baseball action for the Powell Pioneers. The Post 26 squad won all three of its games to improve to 8-5 for the summer. The team is back in action Tuesday for a 5 p.m. game against Lovell. Tribune photo by John Wetzel Only the weather halts Powell's tourney runThe Powell American Legion Post 26 Pioneers overcame an improvised tournament bracket and three challengers to advance undefeated to the championship game of baseball tournament action in Riverton over the weekend.

Mother Nature denied the Pioneers their shot at Sunday's tournament title.

“It was raining, snowing and all of about 35 degrees,” said Pioneers coach Jeff Young. “That's just a good way to get a kid hurt early in the season, so we decided not to play.”

The cancellation left the Pioneers as the only unbeaten team in the tournament field, which shrank late in the week as Torrington opted not to make the trip westward. Powell had been scheduled to face Riverton in Sunday's title contest.

“There was some talk about when we play our doubleheader against them that we could make the first game there the tournament championship game,” said Young. “That changes the pitching matchups though, so as far as I'm concerned it's over. We're done with that.”

The Pioneers had staff ace Scotty Jameson set up to pitch for them in the championship game. Powell, now 8-5 for the summer, returns to action on Tuesday night for a 5 p.m. game against Lovell. The game will be played in Cowley.

Powell 15, Lovell 5 (5 inn.)

Powell's top four batters accounted for eight hits and 11 runs as the Pioneers scored their third win of the year over Lovell in decisive fashion. Jameson slugged his third home run of the summer and, along with teammate Colter Bostick, drove in three runs in the contest.

Josh Cragoe picked up the win, allowing three runs, all earned, and striking out three in three innings of work.

Grant Geiser came in to throw the final two frames for Powell.

Powell 5, Riverton 4

The Pioneers rallied for three runs in their final at-bat to steal a 5-4 victory over tournament host Riverton on Friday night. Powell newcomer Sinjin Smith doubled home the eventual winning run and also picked up a complete-game victory on the hill.

Smith, who went 2-for-4 at the plate, allowed just six hits and fanned seven Riverton batters in seven innings of work. Jameson added a solo RBI to open the scoring for Powell in the first inning. Geiser added a 2-for-3 performance at the plate with a pair of doubles.

Powell 10, Douglas 5

The Pioneers surged out of the gate for four first-inning runs and never looked back in a 10-5 semifinal victory over Douglas. Gianluca Giarrizzo, back in the lineup after missing the Pioneers' first 10 games with a lingering soccer injury, went 3-for-5 with two runs and two RBI.

Colter Bostick went the distance for the victory, allowing seven hits and fanning eight. Three of Douglas' five runs were charged against Bostick as earned.