Rangers Host Cheyenne in 2020 Home Finale
The final two home games of the shortened 2020 Legion baseball season is also Senior Day for the Laramie Rangers today at Cowboy Field.
Laramie (27-20, 2-6) takes on Cheyenne Post Six in a conference doubleheader starting at 4 p.m.
The Senior Day recognition ceremony will take place in-between the two games.
With this being the final home date of the season, it will mark the final appearance on the home field for Caleb Eaton, Tyler Oppie, and Calvin Webb. They are the three seniors in the Rangers program this year.
Lozano said, “If you haven’t had a chance to come out and see these three play baseball, you’re missing out, and so, I would invite you to come check out Ranger baseball on Saturday.”
While he hasn’t had the privilege of coaching Oppie and Webb that long, Lozano says you notice their impact.
“They are just phenomenal, not only baseball players but good leaders on the team, good kids off the field, just really a pleasure to have (on the team).”
Eaton is the one Lozano has been around the most. He was asked recently by some umpires what Caleb’s going, and Lozano responded that we’re losing him.
“That’s a guy that this year, for example, has played all nine positions. He’s a kid that I can put anywhere on the field, and I know that he’s going to give everything he’s got. We all know what kind of hitter he is.”
In Laramie’s regular lineup, Eaton leads the team is batting average, total hits, total extra-base hits, triples, home runs, runs scored, on-base percentage, slugging percentage, and OPS. He’s hitting .396 with 59 hits and 35 RBI’s (tied for the team lead). Eaton has 20 extra-base hits with 11 double, five triple, and four home runs. He has scored 47 runs this season and stolen 12 bases, which is second on the squad. Eaton is also 4-0 on the mound with a 2.70 earned run average over 11 appearances. His primary position has been third base this season.
Oppie is 6-2 as a pitcher this year. He has a 1.57 ERA over 16 appearances. Oppie has thrown 44.2 innings with 67 strikeouts and only 22 walks. He’s hitting .241 on the season with 15 RBI’s, and Tyler has 11 stolen bases. If he’s not on the mound, Oppie plays centerfield.
Webb is primarily at first base but has also done some catching. He batting .258 with 30 RBI’s. Webb leads the Rangers with 13 doubles this season. He has only eight strikeouts over 154 plate appearances. Webb’s 33 total hits rank fourth on the team. He also has a triple and a home run this season.
All three seniors are headed off to play college baseball this fall. Eaton is going to Colorado Northwest College in Rangely, CO. Oppie and Webb will continue as teammates, as they signed earlier this year to play at Dakota Wesleyan University in Mitchell, SD.
Lozano added, “It’s going to be a bittersweet day for us because I have good feelings about sending the seniors off with a win or two, but it’ll be bittersweet because it’s the last time for these guys on Cowboy Field. Not only are they going to miss this but this program’s going to miss them.”
The Rangers are coming off a sweep of Sheridan on Wednesday at Cowboy Field. They won the first game in their final at-bat and then controlled game two for a sweep.
By limiting pitch counts and getting good efforts on the mound against the Troopers, Laramie manager Aaron Lozano says they’re in good shape, pitching-wise, heading into today.
“We actually get to go into the weekend (Saturday) with a full staff. That’s exciting because Cheyenne is no slouch, as everybody knows. I don’t need to say that, everybody knows that, right? They’re coming off a couple of losses up in Gillette, so they’re going to come in here thirsty (for a victory). They’re going to come in here wanting to make things happen, especially with that rain out (on Tuesday). They don’t want to get in a position where they may have to make-up a game before the state tournament. They’re going to come in ready to play.”
The Rangers are 1-3 against Cheyenne this season. Two of those losses were conference games in mid-June in the Capital City. One was just last Tuesday, July 14, when the Sixers topped Laramie at Cowboy Field in a 9-inning game, 4-0.
The conference twin bill for Laramie against Cheyenne starts at 4 p.m.
KOWB (AM 1290) will broadcast both games live. Coverage will start at 3:45 p.m. with David Settle calling the action.
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