The Powell Pioneers weren’t met with baseball weather for their three-game home stand last weekend, but that didn’t stall them. 

Despite graupel and temperatures floating in the 30s and 40s, they picked up three victories, defeating the Billings Cardinals in a Saturday doubleheader (8-7, 4-3), followed by an 11-1 win over the Green River Wolves Sunday. With the three wins, Powell is now 4-0 on the young season. 

While the Pioneers were able to escape with two Saturday victories, the bats took time to find a groove. Despite posting a combined 11 runs, Powell came up with just 10 hits between the two games. 

Thankfully for the Pioneers, they excelled at the small ball. Between stellar baserunning and Billings’ miscues in the field, they were able to earn two one-run wins. 

“We took advantage of what was given to us,” manager Joe Cates said. “We ran bases well, did the fundamentals right. We helped ourselves when we could, and when they gave us a gift, we took advantage of it.”

Strong performances on the mound came from Kolt Flores, Mason Marchant, Brock Johnson and Cade Queen. Marchant and Queen allowed just two hits in the latter of Saturday’s games. 

Though Powell didn’t lose Saturday, the squad’s approach in the batter’s box wasn’t stellar. That changed Sunday.

Facing Green River in what was scheduled to be a nine-inning game, the Pioneers ended it after four-and-a-half innings, due to productive hitting and dominance on the mound from Trey Stenerson.

Powell crossed the plate three times in the first inning and built on that with four more runs in the second, pitting the Wolves in a deep hole, one they didn’t escape. 

Kobe Ostermiller, Queen and Stenerson all recorded two hits, while Stenerson, Ostermiller and Marchant all recorded multiple RBIs. 

Increased confidence at the plate paid dividends for Powell on Sunday. 

“The approach was good,” Cates said. “They were taking good swings on good pitches. Them being loose leads to better at-bats.”

On the mound, Stenerson allowed just one hit and one run in four innings of work. 

The freshman, however, got into trouble in the third inning, walking three consecutive batters and loading the bases. Stenerson, however, limited the damage to one run and pitched a one-two-three inning in the fourth to finish his outing. 

“I think he was able to just clear his head a bit,” Cates said. “He wasn’t worried about throwing balls and strikes, but just pounding the zone. Once he realized it was that simple, he put it to work and realized what he was supposed to do.”

After Stenerson went to the dugout, Landon Sessions pitched an inning to close out his team’s 11-1 mercy-rule win. 

Now 4-0, the Pioneers play road doubleheaders on Saturday and Sunday against Casper and Buffalo. 

Still undefeated, Powell’s manager is pleased with his team’s performance but not satisfied. He knows the team can be a juggernaut if it continues to sharpen various areas. 

“Just keep playing baseball,” Cates said. “Keep working on the little things, keep doing what they need to be doing.”