TORRINGTON – The first game of a home double-header between the Torrington Tigers ‘A’ Legion baseball team and the WESTCO Zephyrs out of Scottsbluff came down to the wire on Tuesday, May 13.

WESTCO established an early lead with a 4-1 run in the first inning of the game at Jirdon Park.

The Tigers battled back in the bottom of the seventh inning, scoring the four runs they needed to overtake WESTCO and post the win, 7-6.

The second game between Torrington and WESTCO found the Tigers ahead, 5-1, at the bottom of the second inning. The Zephyrs responded with eight runs in the top of the third and five in the fifth to prevail, 16-7.

“I thought WESTCO played a good ball game,” coach Lane Greiman said. “They were really fundamentally sound and hit the ball really well. They made plays when they needed to and executed efficiently. We had too many errors and threw the ball around too much to win a ballgame. We are still early in the season and are looking and progressing really well.”

Game 1

The first inning between the Tigers and the Zephyrs ended with WESTCO up, 4-1. Torrington scored its lone run in the bottom of the first when Landre Greiman hit a sacrifice fly to drive Drew Kramer home.

The Tigers’ fielders stepped up in the top of the second inning to shut out the Zephyrs. Torrington pitcher Ty Albaugh struck out one. Greiman fielded a pop fly and a grounder at shortstop for the next two outs.

Torrington once again prevented WESTCO from scoring in the top of the third inning. The Zephyrs grounded out to Albaugh on the pitcher’s mound. Connor Correll fielded a grounder at third before WESTCO sent a grounder to Greiman at shortstop.

The Tigers narrowed WESTCO’s lead to a pair of runs, 4-2, in the bottom of the third inning when Greiman singled, driving Correll home.

The Zephyrs found themselves scoreless in the top of the fourth inning with another solid effort by Torrington’s fielders. Albaugh struck out one runner for the first out. Albaugh and first baseman Caleb Kelly picked off a WESTCO runner before Albaugh fielded a grounder.

The Tigers whittled the Zephyr’s lead down to a single run, 4-3, in the bottom of the fourth inning. Colby Sandusky took the bat and blasted a home run into left field for one RBI.

WESTCO fired back with two runs in the top of the fifth inning while shutting out the Tigers in the bottom to pull up, 6-3.

Neither team scored in the sixth inning. Correll stepped up to the pitcher’s mound, striking out two in the top of the sixth while Greiman fielded a ground ball at shortstop.

Torrington’s fielders tallied three outs before the Zephyrs could score in the top of the seventh inning. WESTCO grounded out to Kelly for the first out. Catcher James Stienmetz tagged out his opponent at home plate and Kramer caught a pop fly at second base.

Stepping up to bat, the Tigers scored four decisive runs in the bottom of the seventh. Greiman hit a sacrifice grounder to send Kramer home.

Kelly and Sandusky both scored on two different wild pitches to tie the game, 6-6.

Correll hit a grounder and reached first on an error, driving home designated runner Asher Mattis for the Tigers to overtake WESTCO, 7-6.

Torrington tallied seven hits against the Zephyrs in the first game. Kramer and Kelly led with two apiece while Greiman, Sandusky and Albaugh each tallied one.

Albaugh opened as pitcher for the Tigers, striking out three over four innings. Correll came in as relief, striking out three.

Game 2

The Tigers led, 5-1, at the bottom of the second inning. Torrington outscored the Zephyrs, 2-0, in the first inning and 3-1 in the second.

WESTCO replied with an 8-0 run in the third inning. Five additional runs by the Zephyrs in the top of the fifth inning sealed the win for WESTCO.

The Tigers collected nine hits in the second game. Mac Hibben tallied two home runs – one in the first inning and one in the fourth – for three RBI.

Ryan Moorehouse totaled two hits for two RBI. Kramer also recorded two hits with one each by Grady Shields, Stienmetz and Sandusky.

Hibben pitched the first three innings for Torrington, striking out seven. Moorehouse and Shields played relief.