SUBMITTED ARTICLE

The 2023 American Legion Baseball season opened Tuesday, May 23, as Randolph traveled to Orchard to take on the Tri-County Titans.

Coach Jeff Shabram said Tri-County is in its second year as a legion baseball program and is still a juniors-only team this season, with players from Orchard, Verdigre, Ewing, Page, Center, and Niobrara.

The Titans won the game by a score of 13-5.

Ryan Rifer took the mound and pitched four solid innings, allowing three runs while striking out eight batters to get the win.

Wyatt Shabram came in relief in the fifth inning to get the save, while striking out two batters. Connor Thomson was behind the plate at catcher the entire game.

Other infielders included Jake Schroeder, Landon McAllister, and Riley Saul.

Tuesday night's outfielders were Isaac Pavlik, Dane Miller, Kaiden Bauer, Jase Kotrous and Rogan Robertson. Landon Nelson was a designated hitter.

The game was tight through the first three innings before Tri-County erupted for nine runs in the fourth inning to take control, ultimately ending the game by the eight-run rule after five innings.

The defense was in charge of the first inning holding Randolph scoreless while Shabram was able to cross home plate for the first Titan run in the bottom of the first.

Randolph was able to score in its half of the second inning and Tri-County was held scoreless. Both teams plated two runs in their halves of the third inning. Titan runs were scored by Rifer and Miller, with the score tied, 3-3.

Randolph was held scoreless in the fourth inning, going 1-2-3.

Then, Landon Nelson got the scoring spree started in the bottom of the fourth after clutch hits by the entire Titan lineup.

Other scorers in the fourth inning were... Thomson (two runs), Shabram, Rifer, Miller, Pavlik, McAllister, and Saul.

The game then ended in the fifth inning after Pavlik scored on a Kaiden Bauer RBI.

The Titans traveled to Stanton on Tuesday and will play in O'Neill Friday.

This weekend, the squad travels to Pender for a juniors tournament and will play Sutton and Pender, Saturday.

"It will be a busy week of American Legion baseball action," Shabram said.