SAN BERNARDINO, CALIFORNIA – Team Wyoming kicked off the 2025 Little League Baseball Mountain Region tournament in Southern California with a 10-6 victory against Montana in the opening round on Saturday, August 2.
Saturday’s victory was Wyoming’s first at the Mountain Region tournament since 2011 and the first for Torrington Little League since 1992.
“This was a big win not only our program but for Wyoming in general,” coach Grant Curry said. “Our players put a lot of work to get to this point.”
Wyoming built a 10-0 lead in the first three innings with a 2-0 run in the first and a 6-0 run in the third.
“It was nice to get to runs in the first inning,” Curry remarked. “The third inning was pretty impactful for us and helped calm the team down. The kids looked like they were playing on their normal field at home and didn’t show any nerves. (Pitcher) Hudson Hoffman deserves a shoutout with five strikeouts for no hits going into the end of the third inning.”
Montana rallied with four runs in the fourth before Wyoming fired back with a 3-0 run in the fifth.
“You could tell from the body language of the Montana players that they were breaking down by the fifth inning,” coach Curry added.
Wyoming advanced to play Utah on Sunday afternoon. Utah opened with seven runs in the top of the first inning. Team Wyoming battled back with five runs in the bottom of the first.
A 2-0 run by Utah in the third inning placed Utah ahead by four points, 10-6. While solid fielding by Wyoming shut out Utah in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings, Wyoming came up short in reaching home for the remainder of the game and Utah took the win, 10-6.
“I was proud of our team for coming back with five runs right away (in the bottom of the first),” Curry said. “A standout performance was Gunner Werning. He came in (as pitcher) for us and played the rest of the game, holding Utah to just three runs after that first inning.”
Wyoming truly represents small-town Wyoming and America at the tournament. The other four squads at the Mountain Region playoffs represent significantly larger cities, including Las Vegas, Billings, Colorado’s Front Range Urban Corridor and the Salt Lake City-Provo metro area in Utah.
At one point, the announcer told the crowd the entire population of Torrington could fit in the stands at the Little League West Region Complex in San Bernardino, Curry said.
“We have that small-town vibe and other teams like California and Hawaii are rooting for us,” coach Curry added. “I’ve received texts from coaches and parents from across Wyoming rooting for us.”
At the end of the day, Torrington Little League represented Wyoming with talent, grit and class.
“I am super proud of our team,” coach Curry said. “They come from a small town and play with heart. The team is a brotherhood and the players love each other. They play the right way and show respect for the game.”
Wyoming played Montana again on Tuesday morning for an opportunity to advance to the semifinals. Results were not available at press time.
Game 1 – Montana
Wyoming opened with a 2-0 run in the first inning.
A shut-out performance by Wyoming’s fielders in the top of the first prevented Montana from finding home plate. Montana grounded out twice to Jacob Hibben on second base with Hibben tossing the ball to Tyzik Wunder at first on both occasions.
Hoffman, pitching for Wyoming, fielded a grounder and sent the ball to Wunder at first for the third out.
Wyoming got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the first with two runs. Preston Stratton singled for one RBI while Wunder reached home on a passed ball.
Montana remained scoreless in both the top of the second and third innings. Three strikeouts by Hoffman in the top of the second inning resulted in three quick outs. Hoffman went on to strike out two in the top of the third inning. Stratton caught a pop fly in center field to tally the third out.
Wyoming’s offense hit the ground running in the bottom of the third inning with six runs. Stratton and Jax Bruch each hit a single for two RBI apiece. Wunder singled and reached second base on an error to send Chase Baker home. Werning rounded out runs when he scored on an error.
Montana attempted to get back in the game with a 4-0 run in the fourth inning. The effort by Montana came up far short and Wyoming remained ahead, 10-4.
Wyoming’s fielders closed ranks in the top of the fifth inning to prevent Montana from adding additional runs. Montana grounded out to Hibben at second base and Hibben tossed the ball to Wunder on first for the out. Hibben went on to catch a pop fly at second base.
Caden Ryall came in as relief pitcher and struck out one.
Wyoming pulled up by three runs in the bottom of the fifth. Werning and Wunder both scored on wild pitches. Stratton sacrificed a pop fly, allowing Hoffman to score.
Wyoming topped off its win by shutting out Montana in the sixth inning. Montana grounded out to Werning on third base and Werning sent the ball to Hibben on second for the out. Ryall fielded a second grounder from the mound and tossed the ball to Hoffman at shortstop for the out. Ryall struck out the third Montana batter.
Wyoming recorded 10 hits against Montana. Stratton set the momentum for the Wyoming offense with two hits for four RBI.
Ryall, Werning, Wunder, Hibben, Bruch, Reed Curry, Cassius Gonzalez and Baker each tallied one hit.
Hoffman pitched the first 3.2 innings for Wyoming, striking out five. Ryall played relief for 2.1 innings, striking out three.
Game 2 – Utah
The first inning between Wyoming and Utah ended with Utah ahead by two runs, 7-5.
Wyoming responded to Utah’s seven runs with five in the bottom of the first. Ryall scored on a wild pitch and Wunder sacrificed a grounder to send Werning home.
Bruch drew a walk, allowing Wunder to score.
Alarik Leo capped off Wyoming’s first at-bat with a single for two RBI.
Both teams tallied one run in the second inning with Hoffman singling for one RBI in the bottom of the inning.
Utah widened its lead with a 2-0 run in the third inning.
Tenacious fielding by Wyoming prevented Utah from scoring additional runs in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings.
In the top of the fourth, Utah grounded out to Werning on the mound. Werning tossed the ball to Wunder at first base for the out. Ryall fielded a ground ball at second base, sending the ball to Wunder, before catching a pop fly.
Wyoming collected three quick outs in the top of the fifth inning. Stratton fielded a fly ball in center field. Utah lined out to Ryall on second and Werning struck out Utah’s third batter.
Wyoming’s fielders repeated their performance in the top of the sixth inning. Werning struck out one. Utah hit a pop fly to Stratton in center field before grounding out to Hoffman at third.
Wyoming posted 10 runs against Utah, led by Leo with two hits for two RBI. Baker and Ryall both contributed two runs as well with one apiece by Werning, Hoffman, Stratton and Hibben.
Stratton opened as pitcher for 0.1 innings. Werning played relief for 5.2 innings, striking out two.
