Colts continue to struggle, fall to Foxes

by Bobby Abplanalp
Wyoming Sports.org

Same story, different day for the Laramie Colts, as the Fort Collins Foxes used a five run first inning to pull away for a 7-2 win in Mountain Collegiate Baseball League action at Cowboy Field Tuesday night.

The frustrations of the highs and lows in the 2009 MCBL regular season have appeared to catch up to the Colts, with the home crowd witnessing the ejections of Laramie manager Ryan Goodwin and left fielder Jonathon Olla in the sixth inning for arguing calls by the home plate umpire.

What was shaping up as a promising regular-season finish with a league high six-game winning streak, has quickly turned sour, as the Colts have been beaten up in three straight games.

While repeating as back-to-back-to-back regular season champions is still possible, the Colts more likely will play for second place for the right to host a first-round playoff game.

However, that game may be against the Foxes, a team that has taken seven-out-of-12 meeting from Laramie this season. If the playoffs started today, then the Colts would host the Greeley Grays, a team they have been more fortunate against this season, but the Foxes are making a strong case for the post season riding a four-game winning streak, while the Grays have lost seven straight.

Fort Collins, 15-21, took a 7-0 lead heading into the bottom of the sixth when first baseman Cameron Duckworth hit an RBI single sending third baseman Eddie Allen home.

Laramie, 22-20, would finally get on the board in the bottom half when right fielder Lee Orr hit an RBI single of his own, scoring center fielder Josh Warren in his first game back from a hamstring injury.

“It’s doing better,” Warren said of his hamstring. “It’s still pretty tight, but I wanted to get back out and get going again and get a couple games in before we go down the last little stretch. It’s at least strong enough that I can run.”

Colts shortstop Eric Cain would lead off the bottom of the ninth inning with a single and would eventually score off a ground out by first base by Kolt Browder, but that would be all Laramie could muster in defeat.

“I just think we need to relax and play like we have been,” Warren said. “We’ve kind of got really up tight the last few games for some reason. We’re not playing like we can, this team plays best when we’re loose and just having a good time. I think if we just get back to that, then we’ll hit the ball a lot better and have fun and we’ll win.”

Laramie will hit the road for two games, starting Thursday in Fort Collins, Colo., hoping the third time is a charm against the Foxes at 6:15 p.m., followed by back-to-back games with the first place Cheyenne Grizzlies beginning on the road Sunday at 7 p.m., then with the conclusion of the regular season at Cowboy Field Monday at 6:35 p.m.