CHEYENNE – The Torrington Tigers A squad kicked off their 2024 season with a double-header split Sunday afternoon at Cheyenne’s Pioneer Park.

The Tigers used a three-run seventh inning to sneak past the Lobos, 6-4, in the opener before falling to Cheyenne’s ‘AA’ Hawks, 4-3. 

In game one, Torrington got on the scoreboard first with a two-run third inning. After Wheatland’s Mason Collar had retired the first two batters of the third in order, Torrington’s Ayden Desmond singled and Mac Hibben followed with a double to put runners on second and third with two outs. Bryce Hager singled to right field to push across Torrington’s first two runs of the season. 

The Lobos answered in the bottom of the third with a pair of runs of their own and added two more in the fourth to grab a 4-2 lead. 

After both teams went scoreless in the fifth, the Tigers added a run in the sixth when Garrett Hager grounded out to plate Bryce Hager to cut the Wheatland lead to 4-3. 

Garrett Hager held the Lobos in check on the mound over three innings to give Torrington a chance to win it in the seventh. 

Trailing 4-3 heading into the final inning, Drew Kramer laced a one-out single to left field and Landre Greiman followed with a single of his own to put runners on the corners for the Tigers. Greiman stole second base a pitch later and Desmond connected on a single to left field to score Kramer to tie the contest at 4-4. 

After recording the second out of the inning, Bryce Hager came through with a double to push two runs across, giving Torrington a 6-4 advantage. 

Colby Sandusky tossed the final inning in relief, allowing just one it and getting three ground ball outs to record the save. 

Bryce Hager finished 2-for-4 at the plate with four RBI to lead the Tigers, while Desmond was 2-for-3 with an RBI and run scored. Kramer, Greiman and Hibben each added a hit for Torrington. 

Garrett Hager picked up the win on the mound in relief, tossing three innings, allowing one hit with three strikeouts. Nolan Long got the start and went two innings, allowing no runs on one hit. Rhett Clark tossed an inning, allowing four runs, one earned, on five hits, while Sandusky went one inning and allowed a hit. 

In game two, Torrington got on the scoreboard in the top of the first inning when Desmond pushed Hibben across the plate on a two-out double to right-center field. 

Cheyenne answered with a pair of runs in the bottom of the first and added a single run in the second and fourth innings to take a 4-1 lead. 

The Tigers ended a three-inning scoring drought in the fifth inning. 

Clark led off the top of the fifth with a single and after Cheyenne retired the next two batters in order, Greiman drew a walk, Clark scored on a passed ball two pitches later and Hibben singled to score Greiman and cut the Tigers’ deficit to 4-3.

After Desmond retired the Hawks in order in the bottom of the fifth, Torrington looked to get even with Cheyenne in the sixth. 

Neither team was able to push another run across the final two innings and Cheyenne held on for the 4-3 victory.