Mustangs C continue to look strong

The Lovell Mustangs Legion C team now boasts a 9-1 record on the season after sweeping the Thermopolis Bobcats on Saturday and splitting with Riverton on Monday.

The team traveled to Thermopolis Saturday for a doubleheader against the Bobcats and won both games with scores of 22-16 and 18-5.

In game one, the bottom third of the lineup carried the offensive load for the Mustangs, combining to go 9 of 13 at the plate. Lukas Miller, Madden Cooley and Colten Peterson all had three hits for Lovell in the 22-16 victory.

Dax Mangus had a pair of hits in the game, while Aaiden Walker, Bradley Mickelson and Dane Wilson had a hit apiece.

On the mound, Mangus got the start and went two-thirds of an inning, striking out one and walking four Bobcat batters. Mickelson came in for the next 3.2 innings and struck out nine, while only walking three. Wilson closed out the final two-thirds of an inning, striking out one and walking two.

In the second game, the Mustangs’ offense continued to put runs on the board and won the game with a final score of 18-5.

Cooley had another three-hit performance, along with Ryan Grant for the Mustangs. Easton Morgan, Mangus and Miller had two hits each, while Walker added one.

Grant got the nod on the hill during game two and went two innings, giving up no earned runs and striking out five Bobcats. Walker tossed two innings of middle relief, striking out three and allowing one run. Taysen Yates pitched the final inning and struck out two batters and allowed four runs.

On Monday night, the Mustangs hosted Riverton for a conference doubleheader in Cowley. The Mustangs were down 13-12 going into the final two innings and plated one run in each frame to take the 14-13 win in game one.

Xaden Baxendale led Lovell with two hits at the plate. Mangus, Walker, Grant and Cooley also had one hit each for the Mustangs.

The combination of Grant, Wilson, Cooley and Yates on the mound struck out a total of six batters but walked 17 in the game. Only five of Riverton’s 13 runs were earned on five hits.

The Mustangs looked to be cruising to another victory in game two when they jumped out to an early 8-2 lead after two innings of play, but Riverton rallied off 11 runs in the top of the third and Lovell was unable to regain the lead.

The only hits for the Mustangs came from Mangus, Grant, Mickelson, Yates and Cooley, all with one apiece.

On the hill, Walker, Mangus, Yates and Miller split the responsibilities, and the four pitchers combined for five strikeouts, ten walks, 14 earned runs on eight hits.

The loss was the Mustangs C team’s first of the season after starting the year 9-0.

On Wednesday night, the C team hosted Cody for another pair of conference games, but games were played after the newspaper went to press.

The Mustangs will travel to Worland on Monday for a doubleheader beginning at 4 and 6 p.m. and will host the Powell Pioneers on Tuesday with games starting at 5 and 7 p.m. in Cowley.