Busy stretch for the Giants will tell a lot
Post 43 drops a twinbill to Sheridan but punishes Denver the following night
JACKSON HOLE, Wyo. — The Jackson Giants are in the middle of their busiest stretch of the season this week as they were swept by the Sheridan Troopers in a doubleheader Tuesday night, swamped a team from Denver last night, and still have 10 games upcoming through next weekend.
Sheridan 12, Jackson 1
The Giants knew coming in that Sheridan has a ton of pitching and boy howdy did the Troopers show some of that off Tuesday night.
Sheridan starter Brennan Mortensen choked the life out of the Jackson bats that have been quieted for a spell now going back to the Gillette double-dip on June 7. Mortensen tossed 5 easy innings, scattering 5 hits, striking out 6 and surrendering just one run to birthday boy Matt Fisher.
Sheridan scored in every innings enroute to the 12-1 shortened game. Aaron Huggins was saddled with the loss after being used as the opener where he gave up 2 runs. Mason Wright mopped up with help from Owen Khanna.
Giants’ Ethan Garner continued his torrid pace at the plate with a 3-3 night including a double. Trayson Kostial also doubled for Jackson.
Sheridan 12, Jackson 5
Post 43 put forth a better effort in the nightcap and led the game through the first 3 innings, but a meltdown 4th cost the Giants any chance of splitting the twinbill.
Jackson came unglued in the 4th inning with uncharacteristic errors (they would finish with 6 total) and poor decisions.
The offense showed signs of life, however, chasing a flamethrower in Caden Steel in the 2nd innings after singles by Mason Wright and Matt Fisher drove home the Giants first 3 runs in the opening frame. Jackson also got singles from Ayden Gralund and Ethan Garner (2).
But Trooper reliever Trevor Stowe and his filthy slider kept Jackson hitters on their heels for the rest of the way.
Garner took the loss for the G-Men on the hill—bases-on-balls again killing the Giants. Garner walked 5 and gave up 8 runs on 10 hits. Matt Fisher closed things out with 3 2/3 innings of relief.
Jackson 8, Premiere West (Denver) 0
Lucas Gralund’s 2-run single in the 2nd innings is all Jackson would need to put away Premiere West out of Denver. But the Giants would get more.
Gralund (2 for 3), Fisher (2 for 3), and Kostial (2 for 3) enjoyed multi-hit games. Wright and Aaron Huggins added doubles and Garner hit a triple to mash his to a team-leading .500 average on the season.
Xander Witt dazzled on the mound as he picked up his 6th win of the year to 3 losses with a 3-hitter. Luke Moore came on seal the deal when Witt ran out of gas, throwing 103 pitches.
Next up
The Giants are now 17-16 on the season. They are in the thick of the Chris Hodges Memorial Tournament at home. Jackson plays Kalispell tonight at 7:30pm. They get Friday off before taking on Rock Springs Saturday at 2:30pm and the Green Canyon Huskers out of Utah at 7:30pm.
It’s another busy week of baseball next week as the Giants are at home against Libby, Montana Monday and a doubleheader against Evanston Tuesday, all before hitting the road for games in Utah on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday.
