Colts lose second straight

by Bobby Abplanalp
Wyoming Sports.org

The Laramie Colts original Mountain Collegiate Baseball League's home season opener with Greeley was postponed by rain on May 31, so the two teams tried again, a little over three weeks later.

It looked like a blessing for the Colts, as they trailed 6-3 in that contest. It didn't turn out any better on Wednesday, with the Grays prevailing 9-6. Greeley (10-6) has won four of seven games with Laramie this season, as Colts fall to 8-10.

Wednesday's game would start off like the first time with Greeley taking the early lead. Three Laramie errors led to a 3-0 Grays lead going into the fifth inning. Greeley would add onto its lead with a two-run single by left fielder Darren Lattomus for a 5-0 lead.

It appeared that the Colts were dead in the water as they did not seem to have an answer for Grays pitcher Matt Kohorst. However, Laramie would rally in the bottom of the fifth to score four runs behind a two-run double from third baseman Keith Towne.

The Colts would carry that momentum into the top of the sixth inning, getting three quick outs. Laramie would threaten in the bottom of the sixth, but would leave two runners stranded as the Grays got out of the inning with their one run lead. Colts left fielder Brock Guetzke had a single and a stolen base in the sixth.

“I thought we had the momentum there,” Guetzke said. “We were one hit away from taking the lead.”

Unfortunately for the Colts, Greeley would tack on five more runs in the seventh for some much needed breathing room to lead 9-4.

“If momentum gets turned away from us, then we don’t know how to handle it,” Colts manager Ryan Goodwin said. “Any time you strike out 16 times in a game, you’re not giving yourself a chance.”

“They (Greeley) just put the ball in play,” Guetzke added. “They kept working hard and their hits were falling. They were hitting line drives and that’s what you need to do to score runs.”

Laramie would rally in the ninth inning with five hits, which scored two runs, but that would be as close as it would get.

“It shows we’re not going to quit, we’ll play all nine (innings),” Guetzke said. “That’s what you need to be a successful team. We all believe in each other and we’re just a couple hits away from breaking this season open.”

Added Goodwin: “That’s why Greeley and Cheyenne are on top right now. Both those teams know that they can play the game, but they might not be quite as talented as us and Fort Collins, but us and Fort Collins don’t play hard from pitch one to the last pitch.”

The Colts will try to get back on track Thursday at Cowboy Field against the first-place Cheyenne Grizzlies, beginning at 1 p.m.