Mustangs C clinch conference title with Powell/Cody double sweep

The red-hot Lovell Mustangs C squad powered their way to the Northwest Conference title over the past week with twin doubleheader sweeps against Powell and Cody.

July 3 in Cowley, the Mustangs stopped the Powell Pioneers 6-0 and 15-5. Then on Monday, also at home, Lovell took two from the Cody Cubs, 8-6 and 11-5.

The Mustangs have won six in a row and nine of their last 10 games.

“Sweeping both Powell and Cody was great for our boys,” coach Greg Rael said. “Like I said before, we’ve been at it since March. Great to see their hard work paying off.”

Rocco Rael twirled a gem in the first game July 3, shutting out Powell on four hits and no walks while striking out 10 in seven innings of work.

“Our pitching has been on point,” Coach Rael said. “We’re doing a great job of pitching strikes and locating our pitches in general. Typically, we have a pretty solid defense behind them. It’s when we start walking batters that we get ourselves into trouble. 

“I can’t say enough about our catchers, too. Taevyn (Gruell) and Kyson (Crosby) have done a great job these past two conference games. Keeping the ball in front of them benefits our entire defense, but when we’re throwing dudes out at second base consistently, it’s definitely a bonus, and they’ve both been doing a good job of that.”

Leading 1-0, the Mustangs took command of the game with three runs in the bottom of the second inning, then cruised from there. Mac Morgan, Crosby, Kannon Owens, Aaiden Walker and Easton Morgan had one hit each for the home squad. Mac Morgan, Dallin Bischoff and Easton Morgan had one RBI each.

Game two was close, with Lovell leading 6-5 until exploding for nine runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to win by the 10-run rule.

Crosby started on the mound and picked up the win, allowing three runs, one earned, on four hits and no walks in three innings of work, striking out five. Walker relieved and pitched the final two innings, allowing two runs, one earned, on three hits and no walks, fanning four.

Rael led the Mustangs at the plate with two hits and three runs scored. Hudson Miller added two hits and two runs. Mac Morgan, Rael, Walker, Crosby, Jaxson Miller and Owens drove in a single run each.

Cody sweep

Game one Monday was a nail-biter as the Mustangs held on to top Cody by two runs, 8-6. Lovell took an early 6-2 lead, only to see Cody plate two in the fourth and one in the sixth to close the gap to one, 6-5.

Lovell scored two insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth to lead 8-5, then held Cody to one run in the seventh.

Crosby picked up the win on the mound for the Mustangs, allowing four runs, one earned, on four hits and two walks in five innings of work. He struck out six. Walker pitched two-thirds of an inning, and Rael picked up the save with an inning and a third of work. Walker and Rael allowed two hits, one walk and one run each.

Rael drove in three runs to lead the Lovell offensive attack, and Ryan Grant added two RBIs, Jaxson Miller one.

Another big inning propelled the Mustangs in game two. With the game tied 5-5, the Mustangs plated six runs in the bottom of the fifth to put the game out of reach in the 11-5 win. Rael ripped a three-run double to cap the rally.

Owens picked up the win on the mound, allowing five runs, one earned, on seven hits but only one walk in six innings, fanning five. Rael picked up the save with one inning on the hill, blanking the Cubs and fanning two.

The Mustangs banged out 13 hits, three each by Gruell and Grant, two off the bat of Mac Morgan, Rael and Bischoff. Rael drove in four runs, Mac Morgan three, Grant and Jaxson Miller one apiece.

“Our bats got hot in our last game against Cody,” Coach Rael said. “We needed both of those games to finish first in our conference heading into our state tournament next week here in Cowley. Hopefully, our boys can keep the momentum rolling and make some noise next week.

“It’s hard playing all 17 players, especially in these conference games, because they’re all must wins. Our dugout has done a great job keeping our players in the game and keeping the opposing pitchers rattled. It’s never fun not seeing the field, but we appreciate all of their hard work and keeping us all in the game.”

Now 20-11, the Mustangs will tune up for the state tournament by hosting the UD Expos Navy 14U, a traveling team from Billings, for a doubleheader Saturday at 9 a.m.

Cowley will host the Class C State Tournament July 18-22. The Mustangs will open with Laramie on Thursday, July 18, at 7 p.m.