Mustangs B and C squads split with Powell

The Lovell Mustangs Legion B and C baseball teams traveled to Powell last Wednesday afternoon to play a doubleheader against the Pioneers.

The Mustangs C team started off the evening with a dominating 16-3 win in the opening game. The Mustangs B squad’s game was called off after the fourth inning with Powell leading 9-6 due to time.

In game one, the Mustangs plated three runs in the first two innings to take a 6-0 lead. Powell managed to get one run in the bottom of the third before Lovell tagged on another three runs in the top of the fourth to make it 9-1.

Lovell sealed the deal when the offense knocked in an impressive seven runs in the top of the fifth to pull ahead 16-1. The Pioneers tried to rally but could only manage two runs in the bottom half of the frame, and thus the 10-run rule was in effect to end the game.

Bradley Mickelson, Aaiden Walker, Kannon Owens and Taysen Yates each had a pair of hits in the game for the Mustangs. Dax Mangus, Dane Wilson, Zander Stahl and Xaden Baxendale added one hit apiece.

The Mustangs had a total of 12 hits against Powell and showed patience at the plate by drawing 18 walks in the five innings of play.

Mickelson, Wilson and Walker shared responsibilities on the mound for the Mustangs and combined for four strikeouts, seven walks, three earned runs and seven hits in the game.

“Overall, I thought our C squad did well,” coach Jonathon Morgan said. “It’s never a bad thing when you can put up 16 runs; however, as the coach, I saw a lot of early season rust we still need to get buffed out.”

Morgan thought the young pitchers did well and was glad to have gotten them some reps on the hill.

“We hit the ball well, and our fielding was pretty solid,” Morgan said. “These early season games are good for these first-year kids to get them acclimated to this level of ball before we get heavy into conference play.”

B TEAM

In the B game, the Mustangs jumped out to a 3-2 lead through the first inning and tacked on three more in the top of the second. Unfortunately, Lovell’s bats went cold, and those were the only runs the Mustangs would get the remainder of the game.

The Pioneers were able to rally in the bottom of both the third and fourth innings to cap off the 9-6 win.

Dane Wilson went 2-for-2 at the plate to lead the Mustangs while Rocco Rael, Jaxen Baxendale and Ryan Grant added a hit each.

On the mound, Dallin Bischoff struck out three Powell batters in the first inning before Kannon Owens came in to pitch the second and third innings for the Mustangs and Jaxson Miller closed out the final inning.

The trio combined for seven strikeouts, six walks and nine runs on only four hits in the game.

“The boys played hard,” B coach, Pete Baxendale said. “We got in quite a few kids that don’t normally get to play in B games, due to sore arms and illnesses. We have a solid group of ballplayers, and we are excited for what the future looks like.”

Baxendale said it was unfortunate that the game had to end early due to the late time on a school night but that the Mustangs will have more chances to play Powell again in the coming weeks.

THIS WEEK

On a cold, rainy Tuesday night in Cowley, the B team was able to play four innings against Greybull before calling it quits due to the weather, at which point the Mustangs had a commanding 16-1 lead, thus claiming the win.

“It is tough to play in those conditions when the kids are cold and wet,” Baxendale said. “Mac Morgan did a great job pitching for us in the bad conditions.”

No stats were available at press time.

The C team was also scheduled to travel to Powell on Wednesday evening, but no scores were available due to the game taking place after the newspaper was printed. The B squad will also compete in Powell tonight (Thursday) for a game set to begin at 6 p.m.