Lions crush Rangers

Richard Anderson photo
Laramie second baseman Rylan Harding is congratulated by coach Kyle Deck after a play in the field against Mountain View.


by Wyoming Sports.org

When the Laramie Rangers are into the game, they play with the best of them. When they're not, the end result is predictable.

Trailing just 5-4 going into the top of the seventh Saturday against Mountain View High School (Loveland, Colo.), the Rangers fell apart, giving up eight runs enroute to a 13-5 loss. Mountain View then completed the sweep at Cowboy Field with an 18-0 undressing.

As has been the case all season against quality teams, one bad inning has done in the Rangers. That disappointing loss then leads to a blowout. That was the case on Saturday.

Laramie led 3-0 after three innings after a big three-run double by first baseman Mike Garner. Mountain View, however, chipped away against starting pitcher Coleton Wilson with two runs in the fourth and fifth innings and a single run in the sixth. Laramie made it 5-4 with a run in the bottom of the sixth.

But the Lions took advantage of two high pop flies in the sun that fell against the Rangers' defense and never looked back.

Sean Gardea and Garner led the Laramie offense with two hits each.

The second game was never in doubt, as Mountain View scored four times in the first inning and three more in the second off of Laramie starting pitcher Jordan Rhodine. An eight-run fourth blew the game open.

Gardea and Ryan Ivy had the only two hits for the Rangers in the game off of Mountain View starter Miller (first name not available).

The Rangers, 5-13, return to action next weekend at the Rich Hinseth Agency Tournament in Rapid City, S.D.