Mustangs C squad remains undefeated after batting against Cody and Worland

The Lovell Mustangs Legion C team kept their perfect record alive by sweeping Cody and Worland this week.

On Thursday, the Mustangs took care of business in Cody by defeating the Cubs with final scores of 6-1 and 5-0 in the doubleheader.

In game one, the score was locked at 1-1 heading into the top of the third inning before Lovell plated four runs in the frame and tacked on an insurance run in the top of the seventh.

Mac Morgan, Kannon Owens and Zander Stahl each recorded two hits in the game, while Dax Mangus and Xaden Baxendale had one apiece.

Aaiden Walker carried the majority of the pitching load, going 5.2 innings and only allowing three hits, one run and three walks while striking out three Cody batters. Morgan finished the last 1.1 innings and gave up no hits, walked one and had four strikeouts.

In game two, the Mustangs carried over the momentum from the first victory and held the Cubs scoreless the entire seven innings to win, 5-0.

Morgan, Walker, Owens, Baxendale and Taysen Yates provided key hits in the game for Lovell.

Bradley Mickelson threw the first four innings, allowing no hits, and he walked three batters and struck out two before Mangus closed out the last three innings and only allowed three hits and also struck out two Cubs.

“I was very happy with how we came out ready to play in the first set of conference games,” Mustangs C coach Jonathan Morgan said. “Cody is always a solid opponent, so to get two wins against them was big for us.”

Morgan said his team was locked in and focused and played solid defense in both games and credited their pitchers for strong performances on the mound.

WORLAND

The offense was firing on all cylinders against Worland on Monday night in Cowley as the Mustangs defeated the visiting opponent 16-6 and 19-0 in the two games.

In the first game, Mangus went 4-for-5 at the plate to lead Lovell while Walker finished 2-for 2. Ryan Grant and Dane Wilson also recorded a hit each in the game.

Wilson got the win on the hill for the Mustangs, pitching the first four innings and only giving up three hits, four runs, walking three and striking out five Worland batters. Walker closed out the final two innings, striking out three and only allowing one hit.

In the second game, the Mustangs put on a hitting display and dominated Worland to end the game via the 10-run rule after five innings with a score of 19-0.

Lovell jumped out early on the scoreboard by putting up seven runs in the first inning and another eight in the second to take the commanding lead. They then plated four more runs in the fourth inning.

Yates, Grant and Mickelson each had three hits for the Mustangs, while Stahl and Lukas Miller had two apiece. Mangus, Wilson and Walker also recorded hits in the game.

Mickelson pitched the complete five-inning shutout, allowing only two Worland hits, walking one batter and striking out seven in the contest.

“I think in the first game against Worland they did a good job of keeping it close early on, and then we just started taking advantage of getting on base,” Coach Morgan said. “They walked several of us and hit a few others, but if we got on base, we found a way to score.”

Morgan said the team did a great job of seeing the ball and that the Worland pitchers were giving them pitches to swing at in the in the second game.

“We didn’t have a single strikeout in the second game,” he said. “Bradley did a great job pitching for us, and it helped carry us through to the win.”

The C squad will have a busy week ahead, with games scheduled for this Saturday in Thermopolis beginning at noon and 2 p.m. They will then host Riverton for a pair of games on Monday in Cowley at 4 and 6 p.m. and Cody on Wednesday, also at 4/6 p.m.