2014 Laramie Rangers Take To Diamond For First Time

The 2014 American Legion baseball season starts Saturday for the Laramie Rangers, when they'll play a doubleheader in Cheyenne.

Laramie is the defending 'A' State champs, having won the programs' first state title in 28 years last season. They finished last year with a 36-19 overall record, which included a 1-2 mark at the Northwest Regional tournament. The Rangers return 10 players from that squad, but one, Chance Jones, is injured and his return is unknown.

Leading this year's team is returning All-State selection and the 'A' co-Pitcher of the Year Drew Burman. Other starters that are back include Nate Hill, Kacey Bernaski, Joseph Legerski, Marshall Stuart and Taylor Dodd.

Laramie manager Rich Wilson begins his third year at the helm. He says, "We've got to figure out and put some guys in some positions, really, which they weren't used to last year, but they're athletic enough to be able to fill in."

Those holes were created with the loss of five seniors, which included 'A' Player of the Year and All-State shortstop Tommy Johnson. Also gone are co-MVP's of last year's state tournament and All-District performers Abel Casas and Alex Jordan. All three were 3-year starters for the Rangers.

The start of the season won't be easy. Laramie opens at defending 'AA' State Champion Cheyenne Post Six before facing the Cheyenne Hawks, another double-A team from Cheyenne's legion program.

The April 26 start date to the season is the earliest for the Rangers in quite a while. Manager Rich Wilson feels that with the short trip to Cheyenne and their turf field you're pretty assured of playing.

Wilson says, "I am a little crazy to be starting in April, but if you look back we've had some good days (weather-wise), and hopefully this weekend will be." In the end, it's about getting his team in game situations. "You like to kind of squeeze some stuff in just to get some ideas (about your team) and be ready for June and July (when most of our games are)."

The doubleheader will start at 11 a.m. at Powers Field in Cheyenne.