Laramie Rangers Take Two Twinbills Over Billings

It was a highly successful weekend at home for the Laramie Rangers, as they went 4-0 and swept a pair of doubleheaders from the Billings (MT) Emmanuel Halos last Friday and Saturday at Cowboy Field.

Laramie Rangers manager Rich Wilson said, "Anytime you can win four games in a row with the same team, it's really good. It shows you had good intensity. Things just came together, and we're happy with the outcome."

The Rangers took the opening game on Friday by a 4-2 final score. Laramie took advantage three errors by the Halos in the fifth inning and that led to the decisive two runs. Tyler Loose had two hits and 2 RBI, while Abel Casas added a pair of hits. Chance Jones went six innings for the win on the mound.

In Friday's nightcap, Laramie used a six-run first inning that propelled them to an 11-4 victory. Casas had a two-run double and Nate Hill added a two-run single in the big frame. Loose had four hits and 3 RBI's, while Tommy Johnson added three its, which included a pair of triples. Hill was the winning pitched, as he tossed five solid innings for the Rangers.

The first game Saturday brought about the most drama on the weekend. Laramie scored twice in the bottom of the seventh for a 6-5 comeback win. Hill has the game-winning RBI bunt single with the bases loaded and one out in the seventh. Laramie trailed 5-1, but rallied with three runs in the fifth inning. Then three singles loaded the bases with one out before Marshall Stuart drew a walk that forced in a run and tied the game at 5-5. Hill then laid down a suicide squeeze bunt that scored Alex Jordan with the winning run.

Hill said, "I was thinking to get a base hit (in that situation). I looked at coach, and he gives me that suicide sign. I was just, okay, I'll get it down."

Hill, Loose and Jordan all had two hits apiece to lead the Rangers offensively. Casas went the distance on the mound for the win. He surrendered five runs on nine hits with two walks and five strikeouts.

The finale was one-sided, as Laramie pounded the Halos in the fourth meeting in two days by a final of 19-4. The game ended after the top of the fifth inning thanks to the 10-run mercy rule.

The Rangers exploded for 11 runs in the second inning, as they sent 16 batters to the plate. The big blows were bases-clearing triples by Loose and Stuart. They would add six more runs in the fourth inning.

Drew Burman started and went two innings for the win on the mound. He had three hits and four RBI's at the plate. Stuart also added three hits and four RBI.

The Laramie Rangers (20-7) have won six straight games. They play at Rawlins on Tuesday, June 25, in a doubleheader. The opener is a 9-inning conference game. With a victory in that meeting, Laramie would clinch the southeast division title and a berth at the "A" State tournament later this summer in Gillette.