Rangers open Firecracker with win

by Wyoming Sports.org

The Laramie Rangers continued their strong play, winning their third game in their last four tries, stopping WESTCO (Scottsbluff, Neb.) 10-7 Thursday night to conclude the first day of the annual Firecracker Invitational at Cowboy Field.

Laramie, now 11-18 on the season, is 5-0 against the Zephyrs this season.

Not only was it a good win for the Rangers, it was a comeback victory for Laramie. The Rangers spotted WESTCO four runs in the first inning, and after coming back for a 5-4 lead, trailed 7-5 in the fifth inning before scoring the final five runs of the game.

The Rangers scored twice in the bottom of the fifth to tie the game and took the lead for the final time in the sixth on RBI singles by second baseman Rylan Harding and left fielder Coleton Wilson.

Mike Garner came on to pitch the final two scoreless innings of relief for the win. Max Schoen, after giving up four runs on four hits in the first inning, finished strong, giving up just three runs in the next four innings.

Center fielder Jason Rodriguez paced the Rangers with two hits and two RBI, with right fielder Sean Gardea and shortstop Skyler Joy adding two hits each. Harding and Wilson both had a pair of RBI in the game.

Laramie returns to action in the tournament Friday night at 7 p.m. against Poudre (Colo).