Rangers win another pitching duel

by Bobby Abplanalp
Wyoming Sports.org

It was another pitcher’s duel Friday night at Cowboy Field in American Legion baseball action at the Dooley Oil Classic.

Laramie's Nolan Carter and Erie (Colo.) Tigers pitcher Wade Miatt almost matched pitch-for-pitch, and the Rangers would score two runs in the first inning -- and like Thursday -- those first-inning runs would be all they needed for a hard fought 2-1 win.

On Thursday, Laramie starting pitcher Coley Wilson threw a three-hitter to beat Broomfield, Colo., 1-0.

Miatt had five strikeouts and only gave up four hits, while the 16-year-old Carter, the Rangers home-run leader (three), got the win with 11 strike outs and allowed just two hits in the defensive battle. The final strike out of the day for Carter came against Erie pinch hitter Tyler DeSanto for the third and final out of the seventh inning.

The 11 strikeouts are a career best for Carter.

“If we play our game, get outs, throw strikes, I’m pretty sure we can win every game,” Carter said.

“Nolan Carter. What an unbelievable job,” Rangers manager Sean McKinney said. “A 16-year-old struck out 11 guys on a team (Erie) that is very, very good. We made some key defensive plays behind him and they’re playing hard; they’re playing the game the right way and good things are happening for us.”

Laramie's two runs in the first came on a RBI triple by catcher Jon Sorenson, who scampered home on a wild pitch.

Erie and Laramie, 16-7, will both face Sand Creek Colo., on Saturday at 4:30 and 7 p.m. respectively.

“The first time we ever played them was last year in this tournament and we beat them,” McKinney said. “It’s a new team; I don’t know all the guys. I tried to watch them today, but their game got rained out, but we’re going to go after them.”

“We always assume that teams are good, so we don’t come out here with a lazy mind thinking we can beat everybody,” Carter added. “We’ll come out thinking they’re the best team here and we’ll battle with them.”

NOTES
Friday night's game was originally scheduled to start at 7 p.m., but due to inclement weather earlier games were delayed pushing the schedule behind. The Broomfield-Sand Creek game that was rained out will not be made up ... Jordan Rhodine will be the starting pitcher for the Rangers against Sand Creek on Saturday.