by Keith Kelley 1 Aug ’14
With their backs against the wall, the Cheyenne Post 6 American Legion baseball team needed two wins today (Friday) to stay alive another day at the AA State Tournament in Gillette. The Sixers accepted and accomplished their goals today, beating Jackson in the early afternoon, 11-1, in a game that ended in the seventh inning due to the ten-run rule. Post 6 then survived a scare with Sheridan in the second game, beating the Troopers 7-4.
After struggling with the bats Thursday afternoon in their 8-2 loss to Casper, the Sixers pounded out 15 hits against Jackson in game one. It took them a while to get going, but a four-run third inning, that including six hits, two for extra bases, and they wouldn’t look back after building a 5-0 lead. Dustin Parker had three hits, a single, double and a triple, plus two RBI”s, while Brock Anderson also drove in two. On the mound, making his first start in some time, lefty Isaac Block got the win, going 5 2/3, allowing just one run on six hits, striking out three and walking three. The Giants were eliminated with the Post 6 win.
Post 6 would then take down Sheridan in a much different game. The Sixers pounded the Troopers 24-5 one week ago, but it was a different story in this game. The Post 6 bats once again went cold, but they took advantage of eight walks issued by Sheridan starter Kyle Atkinson, in a 7-4 win. Manager Tagg Lain said it was a tale of two different games.
The Sixers managed just three hits in the game, but got two RBI’s from Brian Lopez. Jackson Ayala was sharp, picking up his ninth win of the year, going eight innings, allowing four runs on six hits, striking out five and walking three. He had stretches where he retired the first nine batters of the game, then a stretch where he sat down eight straight Troopers. Lain says Ayala was spot on early in the game and just battled.
Post 6 will play at 1 pm Saturday afternoon against Casper, as the Oilers lost to Gillette, 4-2. You can catch the action on AM 1240 KFBC, or right here on kfbcradio.com
Friday’s results
Cheyenne Post 6 11 Jackson Giants 1–Jackson eliminated
Cheyenne Post 6 7 Sheridan Troopers 4–Sheridan eliminated
Gillette 4 Casper 2
Saturday’s games
Cheyenne Post 6 vs. Casper–1 pm
Gillette vs. Cheyenne Post 6/Casper– 7 pm
