Grizzlies rally past Colts in 10

by Bobby Abplanalp
Wyoming Sports.org

CHEYENNE -- The Cheyenne Grizzlies overcame a late three-run deficit to rally past Laramie 5-4 in 10 innings in the first game of the Mountain Collegiate Baseball League championship series Friday night at Pioneer Park.

Laramie, 24-23, can force a decisive game three back in Cheyenne Saturday night with a win at home Saturday afternoon (12:35 p.m.) at Cowboy Field. Cheyenne, 27-16, can win its first MCBL championship with a win in Laramie.

“We probably should have won,” Colts manager Ryan Goodwin said. “I thought we made a couple more mistakes than they did and some things got out of whack there. I also feel like I can look at two key pitches in that game that went against us that if they go differently, we’re winning that game no matter what.”

The Colts would strike first, thanks to a single and two stolen bases by second baseman Tyler Kipke, which allowed him to come home when center fielder Josh Warren grounded out to first base for a 1-0 lead after the first inning.

Cheyenne would answer in the second inning when right fielder Donovan Petta hit an RBI sacrifice fly to right field that sent catcher Michael Surina home to tie things up 1-1 heading into the third inning.

Laramie would retake the lead in the top of third after Grizzlies shortstop David LeResche bobbled a ground ball by Colts designated hitter Keith Towne, allowing him to get to first base safely, scoring Kipke. Warren would then come home off a wild-pitch from Cheyenne starting pitcher Josh Boyer for a 3-1 lead after three innings.

The Colts would increase their lead in the top of the seventh when Kipke scored his third run of the day after first baseman Casey Martin got a sacrifice ground out to first base to lead 4-1.

The Grizzlies would stay close and answer with a run of their own in the bottom half with center fielder Kyle Konicek scoring off a ground out to first base by third baseman Sam Radbil, making the score 4-2.

Cheyenne was not done there, as it would tie things up in the eighth with two-out RBI singles by Konicek and Radbil.

The Grizzlies would then load the bases in the bottom of the ninth with one out, but Nathan Hardy relieved closer Ryan Forrest and got the final two outs to force extra innings.

Laramie could not score in the top of the 10th and it came down to the final out in the bottom of the inning for the Grizzlies. Second baseman Sam McNeil hit the game winning RBI single for the 5-4 come from behind victory.

The Colts will try to stave off elimination Saturday in the friendly confines of Cowboy Field. If Laramie wins, there will be a deciding game three at Pioneer Park at 7 p.m.

“We need to stay mentally locked in and that’s how we’re going to win it,” Goodwin said of game two. “We can’t make the mistakes when we make them because that puts us in tough situations. If we come out tomorrow and don’t make mistakes, then we’ll be fine. We’ll be all right.”