Cheyenne Rolls The Rangers in Laramie

Cheyenne Post 6 blew out the short-handed Laramie Rangers 17-0 in five innings Wednesday night at Cowboy Field.

Ten days after the Rangers beat Post 6 for the first time in nearly 12 years, Cheyenne took control over a low-scoring game with nine runs in the third inning. They sent 13 batters to the plate in the frame. All nine hitters in the line-up reached safely and scored a run. The score went from a 1-0 lead after two innings to 10-0.

Cheyenne added a pair of runs in the fourth and five more in the fifth.

Rangers’ manager Brandon Ruckman admitted they took a step back in this one.

“We did see some decent things out there. We didn’t see the hits that we saw the last time we played Cheyenne. We only had one hit this time, so that was a step back in hits, but we were aggressive at the plate, which I haven’t seen in a while.”

Laramie (2-7) was limited to one hit and only three players reached base in the game. It was cut short to five innings because of the 10-run mercy rule. The Rangers only base knock was a single by Ramon Gomez with two outs in the third inning. The other baserunners came on a hit batter in the fourth and a walk in the fifth.

Michael Schutterle started for the first time this season, but took the loss. He lasted into the third, but allowed nine runs on eight hits with a pair of walks. Matt Smith and Logan Pickard also threw for Laramie and gave-up the eight other runs.

Ruckman added, “Michael had a first good inning, and he was holding them off there for a while, and then they just got his timing, and those hits started to fall. They just got it going from there.”

R.J. Prince led Post 6 with four hits and two RBI’s. Brandon Todd added two hits and drove in five. All of that was part of a 14-hit attack for Cheyenne (10-3), who also took advantage of eight walks.

Ruckman does feel it’s a benefit that they’ve played Post 6 six times so far this season because he like facing good competition.

“They don’t give you anything. You have to take it from Cheyenne. That’s what we’re looking for. Anytime you see a team like this, their pitchers are a lot higher caliber… They’re tough. They’re tough to beat.”

Ruckman believes it will pay off later in the season.

The Rangers are set to return to action Saturday and Sunday with three games in Rawlins. Laramie will play Rock Springs Archie Hay Post 24 and Rawlins Saturday at 10 a.m. and 3 p.m., respectively. Sunday’s lone game in Rawlins will be against Riverton at 11 a.m.