The Riverton Raiders overcame an early deficit with explosive middle innings to beat the Lander Legends 19-6 on a perfect Friday night for baseball at Roy Peck Field.
The Raiders are an “A” level AA team this season, while the Legends field a younger squad, more of a “B” level American Legion Team.
Lander scored first in the top of the opening inning when Dane Kramer doubled to right field to drive in the game’s first run. Jacob Bush later scored on a passed ball to give Lander a 2-0 lead.
Riverton answered big in the bottom of the first.
Colter Heikkila opened with a single and advanced on an error. Beau Anderson added a base hit, and Jameson Spradlin reached first on a dropped fly ball. The error scored Riverton’s first run. Brayden Martin walked with the bases loaded to tie the game. Another error allowed two more runs to cross, giving Riverton a 4 to 2 lead. Cameron Jevne was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, and a passed ball brought home another run before the inning ended with Riverton leading 5-2.
The Raiders continued to add runs in the second inning. Beau Anderson doubled to left field and later scored on an Addison Trujillo single. Jameson Spradlin followed with another hit, and Paxton Yeates lined a single to center to score another run and stretch the lead to 7-2.
Lander threatened in the third inning after Jacob Bush walked and Gage Toups reached base, but Beau Anderson worked out of trouble. Riverton added another run in the bottom of the inning when Colter Heikkila singled and later scored on a groundout by Brayden Baker to make the score 8-2.
The Legends mounted their best rally in the fifth inning. Douglas Mowrey opened with a double, William Oland and Dane Kramer followed with hits, and Gage Toups drew a bases-loaded walk to bring in a run. Tatum Eagle delivered the biggest hit for Lander, blasting a double to left field that scored two more runs. Dominic Kemp added a sacrifice fly later in the inning as Lander cut the deficit to 9-6.
Riverton responded with the decisive inning in the bottom of the fifth. Colter Heikkila opened with a double, and a string of walks quickly loaded the bases. Brayden Martin drove in a run with a single to center, and Paxton Yeates was hit by a pitch to force in another run. Cameron Jevne and Beau Anderson later walked with the bases loaded, and defensive miscues by Lander extended the inning. Addison Trujillo capped the rally with an RBI single as Riverton exploded for eight runs in the frame to build a commanding 17-6 lead.
Friday Night action at Roy Peck Field – Randy Tucker
Riverton added two more runs in the sixth inning. Cooper Olson reached on an error, Cameron Jevne was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, and Brayden Baker lined a single to center field to score another run and push the final margin to 19-6.
Lander was retired in order in the seventh inning, ending the game.
LANDER 2 0 0 0 4 0 0 6 5 5
RIVERTON 5 2 2 0 8 2 X 19 13 0
Lander Legends – Douglas Mowrey 1-3 2B, William Oland 1-4 S, Jacob Bush 0-2, Dane Cramer 2-4 S 2B, Gage Toups 0-1, Tatum Eagle 1-4 2B, Dominic Kemp 0-2, Charles Watt 0-2, Paxton Hopkins 0-3. Totals 5-25
Riverton Raiders – Colter Heikkila 2S 2B 3-5, Brayden Baker 1-5 S, Beau Anderson 3-4 2B 3S, Addison Trujillo 2-3 2S, Jameson Spradlin 1-3 S, Paxton Yeates 2-4 2S, Landon Jevne 0-3, Cameron Jevne 0-2, Cooper Olson 0-1. Totals 13-34
WP: Paxton Yeates (1.0) 1H, 1K, 2BB, Jameson Spradlin (1.) 0H, 1K, 1BB, Beau Anderson (1.0) 0H, 1K, 2BB, Brayden Baker (1.0) 0H, 3K, 0BB, Addison Trujillo (2) 4H, 3K, 1BB, Colter Heikkila (1.0) 0H, 0K, 0BB
LP: William Oland (2.0) 6H, 5K, 3BB, Jacob Bush (2.1) 4H, 4K, 4BB, (.2) 2H, 1K, 4BB, Charles Watt (1.0) 1H, 2K, 0BB