The host Lander Lobos fell 3-1 to the Cheyenne Coyotes on a single by Cheyenne’s Dawson Elder in the top of the seventh inning that broke a 1-1 tie. The game was the opening tilt in the Northwest Regional Tournament for the Lobos.
Eight teams are playing in two pools for the first days of the tournament with Lander in the American League along with Cheyenne, and a pair of teams from Washington, Kelso Premier, and the Prosser Expos.
The National League bracket has the 307 Spartans, another Wyoming squad, another pair of Washington teams in the Centerfield Roosters and RBI. The AAA Blues from Calgary, Alberta, Canada round out the field.
Lander’s Evan Stephenson had an outstanding day on the mound, striking out 16 batters and yielding only one walk. The three hits the Coyotes tallied were all key plays.
Cheyenne took a 1-0 lead in the top of the second inning on a fielder’s choice grounder by Brody Arias.
Lander’s lone run came in spectacular fashion in the bottom of the fourth when Braxton Byers ripped a solo home run over the centerfield fence to knot the game at 1.
It remained tied until the top of the seventh inning.
Lander outhit Cheyenne 6 to 3 in the game, but well-placed singles proved to be the difference.
The Lobos had ample opportunity to score picking up six walks along with six hits on Cheyenne pitcher Raymond Wuerth, but they couldn’t get runners home.
The Lobos continue Northwest Regional play on Tuesday with a noon game against the Prosser Expos.
Cheyenne faces Kelso Premier at 7 pm.
Cheyenne 0 1 0 0 0 0 2 3 3 0
Lander 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 -1 6 2
Lander – Connor Higginbotham 1-3, Evan Stephenson 0-3, Braxton Byers 2-2, Kaden Rowan-Jackson 0-2, Theodore Rivera 0-3, Jacob Bush 0-2, William Bush 2-3, Benjamin Shade 0-2, Nate Childers 0-1. Totals 6-23
Cheyenne – Polk 0-3, Wuerth 0-3, Mazanares 1-3, Polk 0-1, Elder 1-2, Hager 0-3, Detheri 1-3, Arias 0-3 Roybal 0-2, Pollon 0-2. Totals 3-25
WP – Raymond Wuerth – (7) 6H, 1R, 7K 6BB
LP – Evan Stephenson (7) 3H, 3R, 16K, 1 BB