GERING – The Torrington Tigers “A” Legion baseball team battled rainy weather and tough Nebraska opponents at a tournament organized by Gering over the Memorial Day weekend.

Torrington opened the three-day event with a 7-2 victory against Chadron Post No. 12 Seniors on Friday, May 23.

Saturday’s action found the Tigers in a close game against WESTCO with Torrington coming up short by two runs, 7-5, on the final scoreboard.

The game scheduled for Sunday between the Tigers and the Buckley Bombers from Chappell, Nebraska, was canceled due to rain and fields saturated by water.

The May 28 away double-header between Torrington and Laramie was postponed due to weather.

Chadron

The first two innings between Torrington and Chadron Post No. 12 resulted in a 0-0 tie.

The Tigers scored their first run in the top of the third inning when Grady Shields doubled for one RBI.

Chadron responded with two runs in the bottom of the third to take the lead, 2-1.

Following a scoreless fourth inning, the Tigers tied the game with one run in the top of the fifth. Mac Hibben doubled, sending one runner home.

The Tigers’ fielders shut out Chadron in the bottom of the fifth inning. Hibben struck out two from the pitchers’ mound while Ty Albaugh fielded a fly ball in right field.

Torrington took control of the scoreboard in the top of the sixth inning with five runs. Landre Greiman singled for two RBI. Shields and Hibben both followed up with a single for one RBI apiece. Ryan Moorehouse hit a grounder, sending Shields home for the fifth run.

Solid fielding by the Tigers in the bottom of the sixth prevented Chadron from posting a single run with Hibben striking out three in a row.

Torrington collected eight hits against Chadron. Shields set the momentum for the Tigers’ offense with three hits for two RBI. Greiman and Hibben each tallied two hits for two RBI. Caleb Kelly rounded the count out with one hit.

Leftie pitcher Hibben dominated the Tigers’ defense, pitching six innings and striking out 13. Hibben only surrendered four hits. Conner Correll came in as relief pitcher for one inning, striking out two.

WESTCO

Both Torrington and WESTCO fielders shut out their respective opponents in the first two innings for a 0-0 tie going into the third.

WESTCO pulled ahead with four runs in the top of the third inning.

The Tigers collected two runs in the bottom of the third. Hibben and Moorehouse both drew walks, allowing Albaugh and Correll to score, respectively.

A 1-0 run by WESTCO in the fourth inning widened the lead for the Scottsbluff team, 5-2. WESTCO tallied two more runs in the top of the fifth.

The Tigers fought to close the gap in the bottom of the fifth inning with three runs. Asher Mattis hit a ground ball and reached first base on an error, sending Hibben home. Moorehouse followed with a single for one RBI. Kelly singled and Moorehouse reached home on an error.

Torrington recorded three hits against WESTCO, with one for two RBI by Moorehouse and an additional hit from both Kelly and Hibben.

Shields pitched the first three innings for Torrington, striking out one. Colby Sandusky played relief for two innings, striking out two.