Mustangs win three of four, take Douglas tournament

The Lovell Mustangs hit the road for the Douglas Wood Bat Tournament over the weekend and came away with a trophy.

After dropping the opener to Evanston, 6-1, the Mustangs won the second game over Wheatland 2-1. Seeded into a bracket on Sunday, the Mustangs swept their way to the title, beating host Douglas 9-0 and Torrington 7-3 for the title.

Errors hurt the Mustangs in game one against the Evanston Outlaws. Pitchers Alex Hedges and Matthew Newman allowed only two hits, but only two of Evanston’s six runs were earned, the others error aided.

The game was a scoreless tie until the bottom of the fourth when the Outlaws plated three runs off Hedges, then added three in the fifth. The Mustangs finally broke through with a run in the top of the sixth when Newman reached base on an error, raced to third on a single by Jacob Bischoff and scored on a single by Carlos Rodriguez.

Starter Hedges allowed just one hit in five innings of work, while walking two. He allowed six runs, two earned, and struck out 10. Newman threw one inning, allowing no runs on one hit and one walk, fanning one.

In game two of a pool play doubleheader Saturday, the Mustangs won a pitchers’ duel in extra innings against the Wheatland Lobos. Cash Wassmer threw a gem for the Mustangs, allowing one run on four hits and one walk in seven innings, fanning eight, and Tucker Jackson picked up the win with one scoreless inning of relief, striking out two or the three batters he faced.

After Wheatland scored in the top of the first, the Mustangs matched that tally in the bottom of the second on a run scored by Lafe Files.

There was no more scoring until the bottom of the eighth when Lovell walked off with the win. Kyle Wilson was placed at second as a ghost runner and was replaced by brother Blake as a pinch runner. Blake Wilson advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by Jack Pharaoh and scored on a double by Bischoff.

Sunday wins

Playing the host Douglas Cats on Sunday, the Mustangs blasted the home team 9-0. Lovell had only four hits in the game, but the hits were well timed, and the Mustangs drew seven walks to help the cause.

Lovell’s runs came in bunches: three in the first inning, four in the third and two in the seventh. Files ripped a three-run triple in the first inning, and Hedges crushed a two-run home run in the seventh.

Files started on the mound and picked up the win, throwing 5 1/3 shutout innings and allowing four hits and one walk while striking out eight. Bischoff threw the final 1 2/3 innings, allowing two hits and two walks, fanning two.

Meeting the Torrington Tigers for the championship, the Mustangs broke the game open with a five-run sixth inning to win 7-3. Torrington led 3-1 early with two runs in the first inning and one in the third around a solo home run by Jackson in the second. Lovell added a run in the fourth when Mac Morgan walked and scored on a double by Jackson.

Down 3-2, the Mustangs exploded for five runs in the sixth. Consecutive errors opened the door for the Mustangs, and they took full advantage of the opportunity, scoring on three consecutive one-run singles by Hedges, Files and Blake Wilson and a two-run double by Cove Jolley.

Jackson started on the hill for the Mustangs and allowed three runs, one earned, on three hits and five walks in 2 1/3 innings of work, striking out seven. Blake Wilson picked up the win in relief, throwing 4 2/3 innings of shutout ball, allowing just two hits and walking one while fanning three.

Files and Jackson had two hits each for the Mustangs, Hedges, Blake Wilson and Jolley one apiece. Jackson and Jolley drove in two runs each for the winning team.

“Consistently, all season long, we have gotten great pitching performances, and this weekend was no different,” manager Michael Jameson said. “Giving up a combined nine runs (only four earned) in four games is always going to put you in a good spot to win games. Offensively, we struggled a little bit to score runs, but other than the Evanston game, we played well defensively and were able to do enough to come out on top.

“It was an excellent opportunity for us to get a chance to see Evanston, and three of those teams from the other district before State and see where we measure up. We are on the homestretch now and are hoping we can get all the boys locked in and focused, and finish the conference season out on a high note heading into districts.”

Conference games

The Mustangs will wrap up the regular season this week with back-to-back conference doubleheaders, traveling to Powell tonight (Thursday) for a 5 p.m. start and hosting Riverton Friday at 4 p.m. Lovell is currently tied with Powell for second place in the single A Northwest at 5-3. Riverton is 0-10, though a solid 21-20-1 overall.

The West District Tournament will follow July 19-21 in Green River.