Big Sticks suffer 3-game drought at Sodbusters

Jul. 28—DICKINSON — Losing a three-game sweep at Hastings wasn't the best set of circumstances for the Badlands Big Sticks (30-22), who now face an uphill battle to get into the playoffs in the Independence League. Only the top-two teams will make it to the postseason this year, with the Nebraska Prospects and the Big Sticks' arch-rival Casper (Wyo.) currently in pole-position at 25-9 and 32-19, respectively.

With the losses, the 'Sticks are stuck in fourth-place behind the 29-20 Freemont (Neb.) Moo as well, sitting four games back of the lead and a half-game behind the Moo. The Astoria Field favorites have only three games remaining in the 2023 season, and with a road-trip to the Oahe (SD) Zap that begins today and runs through Sunday, July 30, it will take an amazing twist-of-fate for the Big Sticks to wedge their way into the Independence League Championship Series that begins on Tuesday, Aug. 1. The Casper Spuds won two-of-three over the Zap from Tuesday through Thursday, July 27 to put added pressure on the Big Sticks heading into the weekend.

The Big Sticks fell to a 6-2 loss on Wednesday, July 26 and suffered similar fates during a Thursday doubleheader, falling in an 8-7 nailbiter in the first half of the twin-bill with a 4-1 defeat afterwards in the nightcap.

The Big Sticks put up 4 runs in the fifth-inning of game one to close the gap to 6-4 and then evened the score at 6-6 in the seventh with a 2-run inning before taking a 7-6 lead in the eighth. But the Sodbusters came back with 2 runs in the bottom half of the final frame, sending the Big Sticks to the loss.

Left-fielder Joe Osborn had a solid game at the plate with a 2-for-3 performance that featured a double with 2 runs and 2 RBI while Crason Carey went 4-for-4 with 2 RBI. Dickinson native Troy Berg had a pair of stolen bases in the losing effort, while fellow Dickinsonian Kobe Krenz took the late-innings loss on two innings of work in relief.

Game 2 ended up with only 4 Big Sticks hits as Cam Credeur contributed a triple and Cam Yuran went 2-for-3 with a stolen base, while Dickinson State University second-baseman Balas Buckmaster also singled during the game and Krenz drove in the only run for the 'Sticks. Jackson Horras took the loss on 5.2 innings of work, giving up 3 earned runs and striking out 3.

Fans can watch the games live through the website at

https://www.badlandsbigsticks.com/game-day#WatchLive

to stay up-to-date on the team's fortunes throughout the weekend.

For more information about the Badlands Big Sticks, please visit

https://www.badlandsbigsticks.com/

and/or keep reading your Dickinson Press.

Box Scores

Thursday, July 27

Game 1

STIX 000 040 21x — 7 9 1

SODS 120 300 02x — 8 9 2

Batting

2B — Osborn, Vandine. TB — Carey 4, Osborn 3, Vandine 2, Abulhosn, Yuran. BHP — Berg. SB — Berg 2, Proctor, Yuran.

Pitching

Beekman — 4IP, 6H, 6R, 5ER, 3BB, 3K

Smith — 2IP, 1H, 0R, 0ER, 1BB, 1K

Krenz (L) — 1.1IP, 2H, 1R, 1ER, 2BB, 2K

Game 2

STIX — 000 100 0xx — 1 4 1

SODS 300 010 xxx — 4 4 0

Batting

3B — Credeur. TB — Credeur 3, Yuran 2, Buckmaster. SB — Yuran.

Pitching

Horras — 5.2IP, 4H, 4R, 3ER, 6BB, 3K

Dokes — .1IP, 0H, 0R, 0ER, 0BB, 0K