Mustangs C team ready to host state tournament

As they prepared to host the Wyoming Class C American Legion Baseball Tournament in Cowley, the Lovell Mustangs C squad tuned up for the tournament by hosting a doubleheader Saturday against a talented traveling team from Billings, the UD Expos Navy 14U squad.

The Mustangs fell to the Expos 11-0 and 10-3.

The Billings squad gradually pulled away from the home team in game one, scoring two runs in each the second, fourth and sixth innings, then busting the game wide open with five runs in the seventh. The Expos scored 11 runs on 11 hits, six walks and two errors against Lovell pitchers Kyson Crosby, Mac Morgan and Dallin Bischoff.

Though shut out, the Mustangs actually had seven hits but couldn’t drive in runs. Mac Morgan had two hits. Rocco Rael, Bischoff, Easton Morgan, Aaiden Walker and Ryan Grant one hit each.

The second game was more competitive, though Billings pulled away late. The visitors scored two runs in the top of the first inning, single runs in the second and third and two more in the fourth to build a 6-0 lead against Lovell starter Walker and reliever Taevyn Gruell.

Lovell rallied for three runs in the fifth to cut the lead in half as Gruell doubled and scored on a wild pitch and Crosby ripped a two-run double after that.

Billings put the game away with four runs in the top of the seventh against Kannon Owens, helped by two Lovell errors, and Bischoff came in to put out the fire.

Crosby led the Mustangs with two hits, and Gruell and Jaxson Miller had one hit each.

“Saturday’s games against the 14U Expos were both tough games for our boys,” coach Greg Rael said. “They’re a really good team. They won the 14U World Series in Omaha back in June and also won the Caba Wood Bat World Series in Miles City this month and have played 60 games on the season. They’re no joke. So a lot of credit to them. Hopefully, it was a good tune-up for our boys. We’ll see more of those kinds of teams this week at our state tournament.”

Tournament time

Cowley will be the site of the state C tournament this weekend. The Mustangs come in as the top seed out of the Northwest and will meet Southeast second seed Laramie tonight (Thursday) at 7 p.m.

If the Mustangs win, they will play the winner of the Green River-Douglas game Friday at 7 p.m. If Laramie wins, Lovell will play the Green River-Douglas loser Friday at 1 p.m. The tournament continues through Sunday, with a possible game Monday, as well.

“It’s always nice when we don’t have to travel for any tournament and get to play at home in front of our home crowd,” Rael said. “It’s definitely going to be a team effort in more ways than one. Our parents are stepping up and helping out a lot. Parents and families will be providing help with field prep, scoreboard and concessions.

“It’s going to be a big load to carry. Thursday, we will have a team feed for all players and coaches provided by our board. Around 6:30, right before our game against Laramie, we will have opening ceremonies with all teams present on the field.”

Rael said beating Laramie will be a tough task.

“Laramie is a good team. Just by following their games and overall record, it’s going to be a battle for our boys,” he said. “This is what we’ve been preparing for since day one of practice. We have the talent, players and athletes, but we can’t let our attitudes get the best of us when things don’t go our way.

“If we can keep our composure and take it one game at a time good things will happen. I think the boys are really looking forward to it. I know Coach (Jonathan) Morgan and I sure are.”