Laramie Colts Take Lead In League Standings

With an 11-8 win over the Cheyenne Grizzlies on Thursday night at Cowboy Field, the Laramie Colts have moved into first place on the Mountain Collegiate Baseball League standings. Offense ruled the night as each team went through four pitchers while Laramie had 15 hits and the Cheyenne had 13.

Laramie got off to a quick start in the first inning, plating the first two batters in the order, but a back and forth battle ensued as the starting pitcher for each team went only two innings. With the Colts down 7-6 after three innings, reliever Tyler Creek quickly retired the Grizzlies in the fourth and fifth innings. Laramie then used a 2-out rally to take an 8-7 lead in the bottom of the fifth.

Creek issued his only walk of the night to Jason Blum to lead off the sixth inning and the Grizzlies took advantage, scoring Blum on a base hit from Justin Elmore to tie the game at 8-8. Cheyenne sent Michael Greminger to the mound in the bottom of the sixth and he held Laramie scoreless, but Creek came out for the seventh and held Cheyenne scoreless in his final inning on the mound.

The Colts turn at bat in the seventh would be the difference as Grant Dunnegan lead off with a double and then scored on a base hit from Will Pierce. Pierce scored on a single from Mickey Phelps and Anthony Razo bunted to get on base and was brought home on a double from James Threw to give the Colts an 11-8 lead going into the eighth inning.

Cheyenne had a chance for a comeback in the eighth when Colts' reliever Colten Wilson allowed two hit and a walk. Coach Berson shifted his infield, put Brody Hilgenkamp in left field and moved shortstop James Threw to the mound with bases load and one out. Threw struck out the next two batters to end the inning.

Laramie has won eight of their last ten and have a 10-6 record heading into Friday night's game in Ft. Collins against the Foxes.

Many of the players, as well as assistant coach Kyle Hodson,  were wearing horizontally striped blue and white socks during Thursday's game. Infielder Max Price said there was no occasion, they were simply wanting to "spice things up."