EVANSTON – A young man steps up to the home plate as he uses his bat to knock the dirt from his cleats. After getting last minute instructions from third base, he stares down the pitcher, trying to figure out what will be coming at him. The ball comes speeding down but to him it is going in slow motion as he squares and watches the ball leave the park.

All the off-season happenings have been put to rest as Archie Hay Post 24 returned to the field to start the 2015 season. On Thursday, the team struggled offensively as they dropped to Evanston on the road, 16-5.

Evanston took a 1-0 lead after the first inning but it came undone for Post 24 in the second. Evanston exploded for eight runs while on offense, Post 24 struggled. The Outlaws kept Rock Springs off the board until the fourth inning. Post 24 drove in two but Evanston followed in the bottom half with four more to take a commanding 14-3 lead.

Archie Hay added one in the sixth and two in the seventh but the Evanston lead was too much to overcome. Post 24 fell to Evanston 16-5 to fall to 1-3 on the season.

Rock Springs scored five runs on only five hits while committing four errors in the field on the night. Evanston scored 16 runs on 19 hits while committing five errors.

Green River Tournament

Post 24 opened the season in a tournament at Green River. They finished the tournament 1-2 with a win over Evanston.

Rock Springs opened the tourney against Evanton and it resembled Thursday night’s game. The Outlaws held Rock Springs to five runs on four hits to take the 14-5 win. Austin Mortensen led the way driving in two of the five runs for Rock Springs.

It was a rematch to open the second day of the tournament as the two teams faced off again. It was Post 24’s turn as they jumped out to 7-1 lead after two. Evanston responded with four in the top of the third but Rock Springs answered with four of its own. It was automatic from there as Archie Hay served a little revenge with a 12-7 win.

Holdin Cain had a big game as he drove in four of the 12 Post 24 runs on three hits. Trevor Hautala looked strong on the mound as he went 3.1 innings striking out five Outlaw batters. Skye Parr came in and closed it out pitching 1.2 innings with two strikeouts.

After Evanston, Post 24 closed the tournament against host team Green River. It was Knight Isaiah Munoz who got Green River off to a fast start with two early RBI’s including a home run in the first inning to get the scoring started. At the end of four innings, Green River held a strong 7-0 lead.

Rock Springs struggled to find runs until the seventh and final inning. In the top half of the seventh, Post 24 plated 4 runs but could not get the other three to extend the game despite a strong effort by Josh Tepura.

Along with Munoz two RBI’s, Chavez and Selinas also drove in runs for Green River. Selinas looked good on the mound for the Knights. He went five innings on the mound striking out 10 in the win.

Brayden Tolar went three good innings for Post 24 while Parr pitched two. Tolar had good control as he was able to get ahead in the count throwing nine, first-pitch strikes. Parr struck out two in his two innings of work.

Up Next

If the weather cooperates, Archie Hay Post 24 will take the home field for the first time this weekend. The Archie Hay Post 24 Tourney will start Saturday as Evanston, Laramie and Green River will compete.

Saturday May 9th

11:30 a.m.- Rock Springs vs. Green River

2 p.m.-   Evanston vs. Laramie

4:30 p.m.-   Green River vs. Evanston

7 p.m.-   Rock Springs vs. Laramie

Sunday May 10th

10 a.m.- Laramie vs. Green River

12:30 p.m.- Rock Springs vs. Evanston

Championship Game

3 p.m.- Undecided