TORRINGTON – The Torrington High School Lady Blazers softball team demonstrated marked improvement from the first game against the Cheyenne Central Indians to the second game of a home double-header on Tuesday, April 8.

The first game ended with Cheyenne Central dominating the scoreboard, 28-2. 

Instead of allowing the first game define the evening, the Lady Blazers fought back in the second game with Torrington doubling the Indians in scoring during the third inning to keep the score much closer.

While the final tally in the second game favored Cheyenne Central, 14-6, the Lady Blazers played with grit from both the field and at bat.

The first game started out close with a solid Torrington defense holding Cheyenne Central to only two runs in the top of the first and second innings.

In the top of the first, the Indians popped a fly to junior Kennedy Reinhardt on the pitcher’s mound. Sophomore Lyla Wernsman picked off Cheyenne Central’s next runner at second base. Cheyenne Central grounded out to Wernsman at second for the third out.

Following two runs by the Indians in the top of the second inning, Cheyenne Central hit a grounder to Wernsman. Wernsman passed the ball to first baseman and sophomore Aftyn Hager for the first out.

Senior Hope Hager fielded a fly ball in central field for the second out while Reinhardt struck out Cheyenne Central’s batter for the third.

Cheyenne Central took control of the game in the top of the fourth inning with 16 runs. 

The Lady Blazers scored two runs in the bottom of the fourth inning when junior Skyla Wunder smashed a big fly into left field for two RBI.

Torrington tallied five hits against Cheyenne Central in the first game with one apiece by Wunder, Aftyn Hager, sophomore Kadence Schamel, sophomore Rein Coulson and junior Sinai Hernandez.

Reinhardt opened as pitcher for the Lady Blazers, striking out two. Freshmen Jadah Jacobson, Emily Audette and Ashlyn Schamel pitched relief.

Cheyenne Central opened the second game with four runs in the top of the first inning. Torrington responded with two runs in the bottom. Wunder doubled to drive Coulson home before Wunder stole home.

The Indians won the second inning, 5-0. 

Digging deep, the Lady Blazers battled back in the third inning. Torrington’s fielders held Cheyenne Central to two runs in the top of the third while the Lady Blazers offense scored four runs in the bottom.

During the top of the third, Cheyenne Central grounded the ball to Coulson at second base and Coulson passed the ball to senior Emilee Moats at first base. The Indians grounded out the next two hits to Wunder at shortstop with the ball delivered to Moats and Coulson at first and second bases, respectively.

The Torrington offense found traction in the bottom of the third inning when Wunder hit her second home run of the evening, this time sending the ball deep into center field.

Reinhardt singled to drive sophomore Macauley McIntosh home. Moats hit a grounder and reached second base on an error, sending Reinhardt home.

The Lady Blazers tallied seven hits in the second game, led by Wunder with two hits for three RBI. Reinhardt also collected two hits with one apiece by Coulson, McIntosh and freshman Charlee Floyd.

Ashlyn Schamel pitched the first two innings for Torrington, striking out one. Jacobson provided relief for two innings.