{gallery}07_16_09/pioneers{/gallery} Powell Pioneer shortstop Gianluca Giarrizzo fires a ball across the infield during Tuesday night's doubleheader action against Riverton. Powell wraps up its regular season Saturday night against Sheridan. Tribune photo by John Wetzel 22-run outburst gives Jameson coaching winIt was the best of times. It was the worst of times at Ed Lynn Memorial Field on Tuesday night as the Powell Pioneers split a pair of games against Riverton.

Playing their first game since Saturday's resignation of former coach Jeff Young, the Pioneers turned in a game one performance that was anything but a Dickens classic. Powell batters whiffed an uncharacteristic 17 times and squandered a solid pitching performance from starter Colter Bostick as they fell 3-1, dropping their third consecutive game.

“That's probably the best pitcher we've seen this season,” head coach Mike Jameson said of Riverton's game one starter. “He's a college pitcher who has thrown a year of ball at that level, so he knows what he's doing out there.

We made him look a lot better than he should have though.”

Trailing by two runs, Powell logged its only run of the game when Andrew Young drew a rare walk, was sacrificed over to second on a bunt by Dallas Robirds and charged home on a double by Grant Geiser. Geiser finished with two of Powell's six hits in the game. Gianluca Giarrizzo also went 2-for-3 at the plate while Tyler Dahlgren added a double.

“With Districts and State coming up, these are the kinds of pitchers we're going to see the rest of the year,” said Jameson. “We've got to be ready to hit these guys.”

Lost amid Riverton's 17 K performance on the hill were the efforts of the Pioneers' own Bostick, who took a tough-luck loss. While the Raiders tagged the Powell starter for nine hits over the span of seven innings, Bostick spread out the damage to allow just three runs while fanning seven Riverton batters.

“Colter threw a good game. We just didn't support him well at the plate,” said Jameson.

Run support wasn't an issue in the nightcap. The Pioneers sent 14 batters to the plate in the first inning, chasing across eight runs to set the tone in a 22-2 blowout that delivered Jameson his first victory at the helm of the Pioneers' program.

“Obviously, we didn't face the same caliber of pitching in the second game that we saw in the first,” said Jameson.

“But I thought the kids did a very good job of regrouping between games and regaining their focus at the plate and just driving the ball.”

Powell roared for 17 hits in the nightcap and was the beneficiary of several additional walks by the Raiders to send the scoreboard soaring. The Pioneers led 16-0 after two innings before Jameson began a liberal pattern of substitution to his lineup.

Geiser finished the contest 4-for-5 at the plate with five runs scored and three runs driven in from the lead-off position. Giarrizzo added a 3-for-3 performance, scoring a trio of runs. Tyler England was 2-for-3 with 3 RBIs as well.

“It was a fun game because we got to play everybody and everybody was able to contribute in some fashion,” said Jameson.

Tyler Dahlgren was the beneficiary of his team's offensive explosion, throwing three scoreless innings and picking up the win after striking out four while allowing just three hits. Josh Cragoe came in to pitch the final two innings in relief. Cragoe surrendered a pair of unearned runs and a lone hit while striking out two and walking a pair.

The doubleheader split moved the Pioneers' summer record to 35-13 on the year. Post 26 was scheduled to play a doubleheader in Cody on Wednesday night, after the sports section had been printed. Powell will wrap up its regular season with a home doubleheader against Sheridan on Saturday. Game one will start at 1 p.m.