Stuart’s Pitching Propels the Rangers to Victory

Marshall Stuart threw six strong innings to lead the Laramie Rangers to a 4-3 victory over the Parker, CO Lightning Friday in Cheyenne.

Stuart surrendered one unearned run and gave-up only three hits. He struck out five and walked only two.

Ruckman felt Marshall Stuart got stronger as the game went along.

“He just had that confidence today. He kind of was pitching backwards. He was using curve balls in fastball counts and just keeping the hitters off-balance.”

Parker scored on an RBI-double by Lincoln Choate in the second for a 1-0 lead. Laramie took the lead for good on Harrison Yates’ two-run triple to right field in the third.

The Rangers added a pair of runs in the sixth. Reid Baty laced a triple to deep left with one out. He scored on a suicide squeeze bunt by Treyven Armijo. The throw came home, but Baty beat the tag with his hand to the plate. Armijo came around to score on a wild pitch and two passed balls.

Laramie need the insurance, as the Lightning scored twice in the bottom of the seventh. With the tying run at third, Eli Bryant got Hunter Martyniak to pop out in foul territory down the first base line. Bryant earned the save.

Ruckman added, “It was a great team and a good pitcher. It was a great overall win. Everybody contributed today, so I’m happy.”

Yates and Baty had two hits apiece to lead the offense. The Rangers overcame eight strikeouts at the plate and three errors defensively.

Ruckman said to bounce back after the Windsor loss was a good step in the right direction.

“I’m hoping we can continue this. If we can compete with these guys, we should fair pretty well at double-A state.”

Laramie (16-17) has two games in pool play Saturday against Denver Baseball 18U and the Cheyenne Hawks at 4 p.m. and 6:30 p.m., respectively.

KOWB will broadcast the doubleheader from Pioneer Park in Cheyenne. David Settle will call the games starting at 3:45 p.m.