Fast Start Carries Rangers Past Evanston At ‘AA’ State Tournament

For a second straight year, the Laramie Rangers knocked the Evanston Outlaws out of the ‘AA’ State Tournament, 4-2, Sunday in Gillette.

Jaykob Ahrenholtz drove in three runs with a two-run double and a sacrifice fly. Tyler Oppie threw six innings and slowed the Outlaws offense. It helped the Rangers reach Day 4 of the ‘AA’ State Tournament for a second consecutive year.

Here’s a look at some of the game’s action:

Laramie jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first. With two outs, Janson Adair’s seeing-eye single to right field drove in the game’s first run. Ahrenholtz followed with a double down the right-field line that led to two runs. The Rangers padded their lead with a sacrifice fly by Ahrenholtz in the fifth inning. That scored Michael Schutterle, who led off the inning with a double and was moved to third on a ground out to the right side of the infield.

Evanston was held to two hits over the first five frames. They had just three other base runners. The Outlaws finally broke through in the sixth. A single, a hit batter, and a walk loaded the bases. A sacrifice fly to center field scored one run. A single to left-center scored the second run. A strikeout ended the inning.

Oppie threw 94 pitches and gave up two runs on two hits. He walked two and hit a batter but also had six strikeouts. Ramon Gomez protected the lead in the seventh and earned the save. Gomez led the offense with two hits.

Ahrenholtz and Rangers’ manager Aaron Lozano spoke about the Laramie win with WyoPreps’ David Settle after the game.

Ryan Fisher had two of Evanston’s five hits. Cris Periman had an RBI-single. Gus Allred went six innings but took the loss. He gave up the four runs on six hits with four walks and seven strikeouts.

Laramie will play the Casper Oilers at 7 p.m. Monday in Gillette.