TORRINGTON – The Torrington Tigers ‘A’ Legion team snapped up two more victories over the course of a busy weekend at the Pioneers Tournament in Gering from June 14-16.

Squaring off against the NOCO Elite from Greeley, Colorado, in the opening game on Friday, the Tigers took advantage of an error in the top of the seventh inning to break a 3-3 deadlock and post a 4-3 victory.

Friday’s action pitted Torrington against the Buckley Bombers out of Chappell, Nebraska. The Bombers established a 9-3 lead by the bottom of the third inning. In spite of the Tigers’ efforts to bridge the deficit in the fifth and sixth innings, Torrington ultimately came up short, 10-6.

Determined to conclude the tournament with a win, Torrington roared onto the field on Sunday to trounce Sterling, Colorado, 9-2.

NOCO Elite

The Tigers broke a 0-0 stalemate with two runs in the top of the third inning. An additional run by Torrington in the top of the fourth widened the Tigers’ advantage, 3-0.

NOCO Elite responded with a run in the bottom of the fifth inning and two runs in the bottom of the sixth to tie the game, 3-3.

Torrington scored the decisive run on an error in the top of the seventh inning while the Tigers’ fielders shut out NOCO from scoring in the bottom of the seventh.

Overall, Bryce Hager led the Tigers at batting with two hits. Drew Kramer, Mac Hibben and Landre Greiman each tallied one hit. 

On the mound, leftie pitcher Hibben started for the Tigers, striking out eight. Mateo Correa stepped in as relief and collected the save.

Buckley Bombers

Three runs by the Bombers in the bottom of the first inning tipped the scoreboard in Buckley’s favor, 3-1. The Bombers scored two runs in the bottom of the second and added four runs in the third inning to pull ahead, 9-3.

Torrington responded with one run in the top of the fifth and two in the sixth inning, though the Tigers fell short in closing the gap.

On offense, the Tigers posted nine hits. Bryce Hager led with three while Kramer and Garrett Hager both had two hits. Hibben and Grady Shields each singled for two RBI during the game.

Rhett Clarke stepped up to the mound first for the Tigers, striking out three. 

Sterling

The team from Sterling found themselves on the scoreboard early in the game with two runs in the top of the first inning. 

The Tigers responded with four runs in the bottom of the first to capture the lead, 4-2. 

Greiman and Clarke both singled while Xavier Sanchez grounded out for a run.

A single by Bryce Hager widened Torrington’s lead, 5-2, in the bottom of the second. 

A scrappy defense by the Tigers’ fielders prevented Sterling from scoring in the third, fourth, fifth and sixth innings.

Torrington took control of the scoreboard again in the bottom of the sixth with four runs. Hibben singled for two RBI while Kramer singled for one run and scored on a wild pitch.

Torrington collected nine hits against Sterling. Kramer set the pace for the Tigers with three hits. Greiman had two hits with one apiece by Bryce Hager, Hibben, Clarke and Garrett Hager. Hibben drove in three runs over the course of the game.

Clarke pitched first for Torrington, striking out one. Colby Sandusky stepped in as relief, striking out two.

The Tigers compete in the Cheyenne Tournament over the weekend.