Baty and the Rangers Blast Past Wheatland

Reid Baty drove in five runs and Marshall Stuart added a three-run home run, as the Laramie Rangers defeated the Wheatland Lobos, 13-3.

Wednesday night's single, 9-inning game was shortened due to the ten run mercy rule in the seventh inning.

Manager Brandon Ruckman admitted it was a good effort by his team.

“I wanted to play a full nine innings. I wanted to get multiple runs an inning, if possible, and we did, for the most part. Offensively, we were hitting line drives, and Albert (Steiner) and Logan (Pickard) did a great job of keeping us in the game.”

Laramie (19-20) never trailed after scoring four runs in the first. Baty hit a two-out RBI-single for a 1-0 lead before Stuart’s blast made it 4-0. The Rangers added a run in the second, fourth and sixth innings.

With a 7-3 lead, Laramie closed it out with six runs in the seventh inning. A throwing error and wild pitch led to two runs. After an RBI-groundout, Reid Baty produced a three-run single for a 13-3 lead.

Baty led the offense with three hits, all singles, and five RBI's. Blake Moore and Eli Bryant added two hits apiece. Laramie finished with 12 hits and took advantage of five Wheatland errors.

Ruckman said Baty is starting to come around at the plate.

“We’ve been working with him non-stop on his swing. Every day we’re working with him on getting his foot down and keeping his eyes from changing levels when he’s hitting.”

Ruckman added this is when they need Reid the most.

Albert Steiner tossed five innings and picked up the win on the mound. Logan Pickard threw the last two innings and struck out five.

The Rangers are back on the diamond Thursday through Sunday at the Mike Devereaux Invitational in Casper.

Ruckman also said, “I’m excited to go up there. The kids had a good week off, and it’s time to get going again.” He’s referring to the Rangers nine days without a game earlier this month and getting back into a regular schedule.

Laramie plays the host, Oilers, and Jackson today in a doubleheader starting at 12 p.m. at Mike Lansing Field.