DOUGLAS – The Torrington Little League minors all-stars demonstrated the ability to fight back from setbacks during the state tournament in Douglas from July 24-27.

The first game between Torrington and Rock Springs on Wednesday came down to the wire. Torrington battled back from an early 8-1 lead by Rock Springs to tie the game, 8-8, in the third. 

The back-and-forth continued with Rock Springs ultimately pulling ahead for the win, 18-15.

Digging deep, Torrington rallied to trounce Cody, 15-7.

Torrington found redemption against Rock Springs with a 9-3 victory on Friday to earn a spot in the championship game against Douglas.

Douglas found itself up, 8-0, by the top of the second inning. Refusing to throw in the towel, Torrington fought back in the third inning with a seven-run streak. The Torrington defense held Douglas to only two runs in the fourth inning before Douglas scored 10 runs in the fifth to take the win, 21-7.

Game 1 – Rock Springs 

The first game between Torrington and Rock Springs found Rock Springs up, 8-1, by the end of the second inning. 

Undaunted, Torrington responded in the third inning with seven runs to tie the game, 8-8. 

Jax Bruch set the pace for Torrington offensively in the third with a single for two RBI. Brant Bower followed up with a double for one RBI. Jacob Hibben, Colby Childs and Zachary Hackbarth each singled for one RBI apiece. 

A solid Torrington defense shut out Rock Springs in the top of the third inning.

The stalemate continued into the fourth inning with both teams scoring four runs. Bruch tripled for two RBI while Hibben drove in one with a single.

Rock Springs edged up by three runs in the sixth.

Torrington posted 21 hits against Rock Springs. Reed Curry set the pace with four hits. Colin Matthews and Brant Bower each tallied three with Bruch, Childs, Macoy Baker and Hibben collecting two apiece. Keaton Wilkie, Cason Carlson and Hackbarth contributed one run to the tally.

On the mound, Curry started as pitcher with David Windham, Baker, Hibben, Wilkie and Bruch playing relief.

Game 2 – Cody

Torrington dominated the first inning, 6-1. Hibben doubled for three RBI and Benton Foos singled for one run.

Cody outscored Torrington, 4-3, in the second inning, although Torrington remained ahead, 9-5. Childs singled for two RBI in the second inning.

Torrington widened its lead, 10-5, with one run in the top of the fourth. A close fifth inning saw Torrington retain the lead, 13-7, with three runs. Carlson doubled for two RBI. 

Two additional runs by Torrington in the sixth clinched the win when Childs scored on a passed ball and Wilkie reached home on a wild pitch.

Torrington posted eight hits against Cody, led by Childs with two hits for two RBI. Matthews, Curry, Bruch, Hackbarth, Hibben and Carlson each added one hit to the tally.

Wilkie started as pitcher for Torrington, striking out two. Hibben and Hackbarth played relief with Hibben striking out five.

Game 3 – Rock Springs

Following a scoreless first inning, Torrington took control in the second with four runs. Windham, Carlson and Foos each singled for one RBI apiece while Wilkie stole home.

Rock Springs attempted to close the deficit with two runs in the fourth.

Torrington answered back with four runs in the bottom of the fifth. Hibben doubled for one RBI and Childs singled for one RBI. Childs and Wilkie both scored on wild pitches. 

An ironclad defense by Torrington’s fielders shut out Rock Springs in the top of the sixth inning. 

Torrington collected 14 hits against Rock Springs.Childs led with three hits.Hibben and Wilkie both posted two  with one each by Matthews, Bruch, Carlson, Hackbarth, Wilkie, Bower and Foos.

Bruch pitched five innings for Torrington, striking out four. Curry played relief and struck out one.

Game 4  – Douglas

Douglas established an early 8-0 lead by the end of the second inning. 

Determined to keep battling, a tenacious Torrington defense held Douglas to a single run in the top of the third while the Torrington offense went on a seven-run streak in the bottom.

A single by Foos in the bottom of the third drove in Windham and Bower. Bruch doubled and Foos and Matthews reached home plate. A single by Hibben drove in Bruch. Childs followed with a double to drive in Hibben while Wilkie doubled to drive in Childs.

Torrington’s fielders held Douglas to only two runs in the top of the fourth inning before Douglas managed to score 10 runs in the fifth.

Torrington tallied 12 hits against Douglas. Matthews, Bruch and Windham each collected two hits with Bruch posting two RBI. Hibben, Childs, Wilkie, Carlson, Bower and Foos rounded out the tally with one hit each.

Windham opened as pitcher, striking out three. Curry played relief, striking out four.