LOVELAND, COLORADO – The Torrington Thunder 16U girls’ softball team snapped up two victories at the annual Shootout on the Plains tournament in Loveland, Colorado, on Saturday, June 8.

Opening the tournament on a high note, the Thunder trounced the Northern Colorado Sting by an overwhelming 9-1 margin. Torrington fell to a tough Mile High Crush team from the Denver area, 10-0, in the second game.

Determined to end the tournament with a win, the Thunder rallied and battled the Colorado Royals through three neck-and-neck innings to clinch a 7-6 victory in the bottom of the fourth.

Northern Colorado Sting

The Thunder roared onto the field to establish an 8-0 lead by the top of the third inning.

In the second inning, Torrington scored four runs – three on errors while the fourth resulted from a single  by Hope Hager.

The Thunder tallied four more runs in the top of the third, including a double by Kennedy Reinhardt, a triple from Skyla Wunder and a single by Charlotte Speckner.

Overall, Hager, Reinhardt, Skyla Wunder, Speckner, Charlee Floyd and Ella Anderson each contributed a hit against the Sting.

On the mound, Tatum Struble pitched four innings and struck out nine.

Mile High Crush

Torrington’s opponent from Parker, Colorado, proved a tough nut to crack. The Mile High Crush found themselves up, 10-0, after three innings.

Struble posted the lone hit for Torrington. Reinhardt pitched and struck out one.

Colorado Royals

Recovering in the third game against the Colorado Royals, Torrington pulled ahead, 3-2, in the bottom of the first inning. Reinhardt and Skyla Wunder both singled while Shaylyn Wunder ground out for a run.

The Colorado Royals retook the lead, 4-3, in the top of the third inning. Two additional runs by the Royals in the bottom of the fourth inning placed the Colorado squad ahead, 6-3.

Digging deep, the Thunder fought back in the bottom of the fourth inning to close the gap with three runs. Skyla Wunder doubled for one run while Speckner singled for two RBI.

The game deadlocked, 6-6, before Laney Grubbs stepped up and batted a single, resulting in the game-winning run for Torrington.

Throughout the game against the Royals, the Thunder collected eight hits – two each by Reinhardt, Skyla Wunder and Speckner and one apiece from Anderson and Grubbs.

Struble started as the Thunder’s pitcher and Reinhardt played relief – both struck out one.