Young Mustangs still battling

The Lovell Mustangs have been playing better ball lately after a rough start, but the young team, though competitive, played to a 1-5 record this week against stiff competition.

Hosting the Class A Sheridan Jets Friday afternoon, the Mustangs dropped the first game 6-4 but held off the Jets 10-9 on the second game. The Mustangs hosted the powerful Class AA Sheridan Troopers Saturday and lost both games of the doubleheader, 12-4 and 15-1.

The Mustangs made the long trip to Gillette Tuesday and dropped two to the Rustlers, 5-1 and 4-3.

Friday at the Cowley Legion Field, the Mustangs battled a strong Sheridan Jets squad to a one-run difference in the two games. Lovell led 2-1 early, fell behind 6-2, then rallied for two in the fifth but could never tie or take the lead.

Leadoff hitter Kannon Owens had two of Lovell’s six hits, while Mac Morgan, Cash Wassmer, Kyle Wilson and Easton Morgan had one hit each. Mac Morgan, Wilson, Rocco Rael and Dax Mangus had one RBI each.

Wassmer was solid on the mound as the starter, allowing five runs, three earned, in four innings of work on six hits and four walks, striking out four. Dallin Bischoff threw the final three frames, allowing just one run on two hits and no walks, with four strikeouts.

Lovell built a 6-1 lead in game two, only to see the Jets rally for five in the top of the fifth to tie the score. The Mustangs plated two in the bottom of the sixth to lead 8-6, only to see Sheridan score three in the top of the seventh. The Mustangs put on their rally caps, however, and scored two in the bottom of the inning for a walk-off win.

Aaiden Walker and Dane Wilson led off the home half of the seventh with consecutive singles. After a walk to Jaxen Baxendale, Owens singled to score Walker, and Mac Morgan won the game with a sacrifice fly to right, scoring Bischoff, who had run for Wilson.

Lovell banged out 16 hits in the game: three by Walker, two by Owens, Kyle Wilson, Rael, Easton Morgan and Dane Wilson. Kyle Wilson ripped two doubles, Mac Morgan and Rael one each. Owens and Kyle Wilson had two RBIs each.

Owens was strong on the mound before tiring in the fifth. He allowed five runs, four earned, in four-plus innings, while Kyle Wilson allowed four runs, one earned, in three innings of relief.

Troopers romp

The Sheridan Troopers battered Lovell pitching for 12 hits and 12 runs in the first game Saturday and 13 hits and 15 runs in game two.

In the opener, the Mustangs trailed 12-0 before scoring four in the fifth to make the final score 12-4. Young hurlers Walker, Dane Wilson and Bradley Mickelson threw for Lovell, and Owens, Mac Morgan, Kyle Wilson, Rael, Easton Morgan and Baxendale had one hit each.

Kyle Wilson hit a two-run double in Lovell’s four-run fifth, and Rael singled to score Wilson.

In game two, Sheridan led 3-1 after one, then plated three more in the second and nine in the third to win 15-1. Triplets Easton, Harper and Mac Morgan shared mound duties in the game, and the Mustangs got hits from Wassmer (two), Kyle Wilson and Harper Morgan. Kyle Wilson hit a double and drove in the lone Lovell run. Wassmer hit a triple.

Gillette pair

Lovell took a 1-0 lead on a sac fly by Wassmer in the top of the first in game one at Gillette Tuesday but didn’t cross the plate again. The score remained 1-0 until the fourth, when the Rustlers scored three, then added two in the fifth.

Bischoff pitched four innings as the starter, allowing three runs, and Kyle Wilson allowed two runs in two innings of work. Owens had two hits for the Mustangs, Mac Morgan, Wassmer, Mangus and Mickelson one apiece.

Game two went into extra innings before Gillette pulled out the win in 12 innings. The game was tied 2-2 after seven innings and was still knotted 2-2 after nine. Lovell broke the tie with one in the top of the 10th on an RBI single by Walker, only to see the home team get one in the bottom of the frame.

Following a scoreless 11th, Lovell went 1-2-3 in the top of the 12th, and Gillette hit an RBI double in the bottom of the inning to win the game 4-3.

Owens threw 7 1/3 innings for the Mustangs, allowing two runs while fanning six, and Wassmer pitched the final 3 2/3 innings, allowing two unearned runs.

Mangus had three hits for the Mustangs, Wassmer and Mickelson two each.

On the road again

The Mustangs will travel to Casper Friday to meet the Post 2 Casper Wildcatters for a pair at 3 and 5 p.m., and the schedule then shows them off until July 7, when they play two in Lander.