Following a difficult week in conference action, the Powell Pioneers returned to the diamond on Tuesday night and got back in the win column, defeating Riverton 15-12 and 6-1 to reach .500 in conference play.

POWELL 15, RIVERTON 12

The bats were swinging early and often in the first matchup for the Pioneers (28-13 overall, 3-3 ‘A’ Northwest) and the Raiders (19-14-1 overall, 0-6 ‘A’ Northwest), with Riverton striking first.

Despite two outs in the top of the first, the Raiders scored via a walk, single and double to make it 2-0.

Powell had an immediate answer, as Brock Johnson hit a stand-up triple to get things started.

Jordan Loera walked to join him, before Cade Queen hit a ground out that was followed by an error that allowed Loera to round all the way from first home and make it 2-2.

Trey Stenerson walked, while Cole Fauskee and Dalton Worstell each hit singles to load the bases with one out.

Ethan Welch singled, as two scored after an error by the Raiders’ right fielder.

Jacob Gibson singled to score another, and Trevion Solberg singled to make the score 8-2.

Johnson flew out before Loera was hit by a pitch to reload the bases.

Queen singled, scoring a pair and made it 8-2 before the inning ended on a fly out.

Riverton led off the second with a pair of doubles, with the lead runner held up at third during the second hit.

A single scored a run, while a ground out followed and advanced the runners.

A fly out scored one run, before a double scored another and made it 8-5.

An error on a deep hit scored one more, leaving Powell with a narrow lead up 8-7.

On offense, Worstell walked with one out, followed by a Welch single that advanced him to third. Gibson flew out, but a tag up scored a run to make it 9-6.

Solberg singled, and Johnson walked to load the bases. Welch scored on a passed ball to make it 10-6 after the second.

Riverton hit three straight singles to start the third, before two straight strikeouts.

An opposite field grand slam followed, tying the contest 10-10.

“The weird thing about that game is usually we’re the ones getting the ball up in the air, but we were just hitting ground balls and line drives,” manager Jason Borders said.

Both teams then went scoreless until the bottom of the fourth, when Loera walked with two outs, and Queen followed with a single to put two on.

Stenerson hit a single to restore the Powell lead, before a strikeout ended the inning.

Powell expanded its lead in the bottom of the fifth, when Gibson and Solberg reached via walks with two outs.

Both runners advanced on a passed ball, before another passed ball scored a run and made it 12-10.

Riverton got one back in the top of the sixth, when a leadoff home run made it 12-11.

“They hit the ball really well,” Borders said. “Those home runs got wind aided I felt like.”

Powell escaped without any more damage, before extending the lead in the bottom half of the inning.

Singles by Queen and Stenerson got things started, and Fauskee was walked to load the bases with no outs.

An error by the shortstop allowed a run to score and Welch to reach.

With two outs, an error by the second baseman allowed two to score, and Powell made it 15-11.

Riverton got one more back in the top of the seventh, before Powell finished with a 15-12 win.

“It was one of those games where whoever got the last at bat won it,” Borders said. 

Both teams recorded 15 hits while Riverton committed more errors 4-3.

Queen and Welch both went 3-5 with three RBIs, Gibson had two RBIs while Stenerson and Solberg had the remaining two RBIs for the Pioneers.

Loera got the win on the mound in relief, giving up seven hits and five earned over 4-2/3 innings.

“He (Loera) has been a lifesaver really,” Borders said. “He’s really stepped up … They’re quality innings. He’s not just eating up innings like he did last year. This year he’s shutting things down and giving us quality innings.”

POWELL 6, RIVERTON 1

After snapping the three game skid, the Pioneers turned around in an attempt to reach an important 3-3 record in conference play.

The strong hitting that started game one was few and far between early on, as the first run came in the top of the third.

A two out double was followed by a single, as the Raiders took a 1-0 lead.

A walk to Solberg, an error on Johnson’s contact and a walk to Loera loaded the bases with no outs, before a sac fly by Queen scored a run and tied the game 1-1.

Another Stenerson walk reloaded the bases before two strikeouts ended the inning.

Powell didn’t find its first hit until the bottom of the fifth, when a single by Loera broke open the game.

“I feel like once we get baserunners on we’re at our best. We can steal, hit and run or even bunt to move guys,” Borders said. 

His one out single was followed by a Queen single, as both runners stole to advance.

An error on Stenerson’s hit scored a run, before another single by Fauskee scored another run and made it 3-1.

Powell added to its lead in the bottom of the sixth, when Solberg walked with one out and Johnson singled to join him.

Loera singled to score a run, with the runners advancing on the throw home.

Another Queen sac fly scored a run, before Loera stole third.

Stenerson singled to score him, making it 6-1 heading into the final inning.

Aiden Greenwald pitched a complete game for the win.

He ended up giving up six hits, one earned run alongside seven strikeouts.

“He (Greenwald) threw an awesome game,” Borders said. “Probably one of his best. He spread out six hits through seven innings on a team that hits as well as they do.”

Queen and Stenerson had two RBIs, while Fauskee and Loera had the other RBIs for the Pioneers.

GREEN RIVER TOURNEY

Powell now heads to the southern part of the state to take part in the American Legion Post 28 Knight Invite wood bat tournament in Green River.

“We’re just trying to get healthier and better every time we step on the field,” Borders said. “We gotta find whatever it is we had last year, get our swagger back … We’re winning games but I don’t feel like we’re as loose as last year.”

The Pioneers start off against the Post 4 Razorbacks ‘A’ (13-12) from Pocatello, Idaho, at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday (today).

Then Powell will take on the Cheyenne Hawks (22-15) at 12:30 p.m. on Friday, one of the two ‘AA’ programs from Cheyenne.

Powell will then play the Lockwood Razorbacks (0-6-1) out of Billings at 10 a.m. on Saturday.

Wrapping up the weekend the Pioneers will take on the ‘AA’ Jackson Giants (9-28) at 12:30 p.m. on Sunday.

“We just gotta build off those two conference wins,” Borders said. “We probably got the toughest schedule at that tournament out of anybody.”