Laramie Rangers win first game at South District American Legion baseball tournament

The post-season got off to a nice start for the Laramie Rangers, as they defeated the Evanston Outlaws 14-to-7 in the first game of the South District American Legion baseball tournament in Torrington, Wyoming Thursday afternoon.

The Rangers (28-24) started the game strongly, as they built an 8-1 lead after the top of the fourth.  Evanston (24-17) responded with a 6-run bottom of the fourth and pulled within one run, at 8-7.  After neither team scored in the fifth inning, Laramie got the spark they needed from veteran Tyler Mitchell.  He blasted a solo home run to center field for a 9-7 lead.  The Rangers added a run in the seventh and four more in the eighth, highlighted by Abel Casas' 3-run double down the left field line.

The final score was 14-7.

Laramie pounded out 17 hits in the game and committed just one error.  They also took advantage of four Outlaw errors.  Evanston ended with tens hits.

Tommy Johnson, Barry Thomas, Alex Jordan and Abel Casas each had three hits to lead the offensive attach.  Jordan and Casas finished with three rbi's apiece.

Thomas started on the mound and went five solid innings for the win.  He gave up seven runs, only six earned on ten hits, with three walks and four strike-outs.  Dylan Watson came in and closed out the game.  In four innings of work, he allowed just one hit, with three walks and four strike-outs.

The Rangers advanced to the District tournament semifinals, where they face their rival Cheyenne Post 6 at 4 pm Friday.  Cheyenne swept Laramie in their two regular season meetings this year.

You can listen to live coverage of Rangers baseball on KOWB (AM 1290) starting at 3:45 pm today.  Coverage is also available through our live stream at www.network1sports.com/station/kowb.

David Settle will call the action from the Torrington Sports Complex.