RAPID CITY - Rapid City Post 22 started the Firecracker tournament out with a loss, dropping a game to Spokane, Wash., 5-3, on Tuesday night at Fitzgerald Stadium.

Both teams came out swinging the bats in the first inning. But the offense tailed off the rest of the game and the pitchers took over.

Spokane starter Trevor Fox pitched six innings, scattering five Post 22 hits for the win.

Spokane scored three unearned runs in the top of the first after singles by Andrew Durant and Casey McNair, but two Post 22 errors in the inning allowed all three runs to score.

Post 22 bounced back in the bottom of the inning after lead-off hitter Parker Sullivan hit a long triple, and Jordan Mette drove him in with a sacrifice fly. With two outs, Dana Hill and Brock Estes both singled. Hill then scored on a tough error call when Spokane second basemen dove at a Steven Ficken ground ball and tried to throw him out from his knees, but failed.

Spokane added an insurance run in the top of the fourth when Robert Murphy singled and stole second followed by Mike Naccrato double into the gap for an RBI, giving Spokane a 4-2 edge.

Both starting pitchers settled in after the first inning. Spokane's Trevor Fox only allowed one Post 22 hit the rest of the game, and Kolton Emery allowed only one earned run.

Post 22 was led offensively by Catcher Dana Hill who went 3-for-3 on the night.

The game was over when:

In the top of the seventh, Spokane's Durant led the inning off with single to left which got past the Post 22 fielder allowing Durant to cruise into second.

The next batter, Fox, singled again to left to drive in Durant which gave Spokane a 5-2 lead.

In the bottom of the seventh Post 22 threatened but only got one run after a Dana Hill single.

The game ended at 5-3.

Tuesday's MVP:

Trevor Fox earned the win, keeping Post 22 hitters off balance with a fastball which he spotted well, and he used his curveball effectively using it often. He also went 3-for-4 at the plate.

On deck:

Post 22 (18-18 overall) plays a double-header tonight against Missoula, Mont., at 5:30 p.m., and Fort Collins at 8 p.m.

Other games:

In the first game of the tournament, Coon Rapids, Minn. beat West Warrick, R.I., 8-0, in six innings. Andy Evans went 2-for-3 with two doubles, and Brandon Baugartner threw the complete game shutout.

In the second game, it took extra innings for Coon Rapids to earn their second win of the day, topping Cheyenne, Wyo., 8-4. Cody Beam earned the win for Coon Rapids.

In Game 3, Cheyenne bounced back by edging Missoula, Mont., 3-2. Clayton Garland led Cheyenne, going 3-for-3.

In Game 4, Fort Collins, Colo., pounded out 10 hits, three by Bryan Peters, who also earned the win on the mound, trimming Missoula, 6-4.

In the fifth game, Spokane bested Las Vegas, Nev., in a slugfest that saw 26 hits between the two teams. Spokane won the game, 12-9. Tanner Knutson went 3-for-4 for Spokane.