Despite continued impressive outings for the Hastings' starting pitchers, the Sodbusters only have 1 win to show over the weekend series with the Whiskey Jacks. Hastings native Laif Hultine allowed only 2 runs in 6 innings Friday, Jeremy Schneider only 2 runs over 5 innings on Saturday, and Treyton Scully hurled 8 shutout innings in the series finale. Combined, the staff threw 19 innings, 10 hits, 4 runs allowed, 19 strikeouts to only 4 walks. Sodbuster fans should be very encouraged by the talent we have seen on the mound, especially since Jake Bigham is set to re-join the 'Busters in the next week. 

Probably the most disappointing game for Hastings was the Friday night game. Hultine gave up a lone run in the top of the 1st, but the Sodbuster bats would have a resounding answer, scoring 7 runs in the bottom half of the opening inning. Hastings would add 1 in the second and 1 in the third to extend the lead to 9-1 after 3 innings. Unfortunately, the offense didn't do anything else and once Hultine was lifted after 6 strong innings, the wheels fell off for the Sodbusters. Edwardo Vasquez would struggle to find the zone in the 7th and hits 2 batters and walk 2 batters before handing the ball over to Jacob Shaw. Shaw would protect the lead up to the 9th and Chris Mazzini would come in to close it out. Mazzini walked the only batter he faced before needing to leave the game for an injury. Position player Tyler Monroe would come in and struggle to find the strike zone, before Jake Schroeder came in to get the final out. By that time, Hastings had already relinquished the lead, and the offense could muster another run. The final score was 10-9.

In game 2 of the series, emotions were running high. Hastings would again jump out to an early lead scoring 2 in the bottom of the 1st inning, and again get a solid performance out of Jeremy Schneider. But, again, the offense would all but disappear for the remainder of the night and the bullpen would struggle to throw consistent strikes. Tied, 2-2 going into the 6th, Wheat City would pull away, scoring 2 in the 6th, one in the 8th, and an additional 2 in the 9th inning. Hastings could only produce a lone run in the 7th, falling 7-3 as the final.

The finale of the weekend series would be a much more joyous occasion for the Sodbuster faithful. Hastings offense would explode for 15 runs on 13 hits to blow out the Whiskey Jacks 15-0 on the back of Scully's 8 innings of shutout baseball. Seth Claybourne would button up the game with a easy 9th inning and the Sodbusters would finish the weekend series with at least one win. In the series, Cole Dawson led the Sodbusters at the plate. Dawson went 7-15 in the series, 4 of those hits going for extra bases. The Kansas City Kansas CC infielder has hit safely in all 5 games he has played. 

Sodbusters are now 3-8 in the first half of the 2021 season, trailing the red hot Fremont Moo by 7 games. Fremont's only loss of the year came from the Sodbusters on Opening Night. Playoff positions are awarded to the 1st half winner and the 2nd half winner. The 1st half is over on June 30.