Wheatland pitching silences Zephyrs

By JEREMY WOZNICK

Star-Herald Sports Reporter

A trio of hurlers combined for 12 strikeouts to help Wheatland

register a 6-0, shutout win over the WESTCO Zephyrs in senior legion

baseball action on Wednesday evening at Cleveland Field in

Scottsbluff.

Eric Heatherly, Travis Geile and Dillon Grange limited the Zephyrs to

just three hits as the Lobos posted their fourth win at Cleveland

Field in the last six days after winning the NTC Tournament last

weekend.

"They threw three pretty good kids at us and we didn't do much

offensively," Zephyrs coach Mark Moran said. "That's been the problem

for us the last week or so. Hopefully, with more games and the more

at-bats we get, that will change."

Grange picked up the win on the mound for the Lobos. He struck out

six of the nine batters he faced, including the final four.

Offensively, Wheatland scored one run each in the first and third

innings on sacrifice fly balls to center off the bats of Geile and

Jordan Koerwitz. The Lobos added a pair of runs in the fourth to take

a 4-0 lead before scoring a pair of unearned runs in the seventh.

"Defensively, we have to play better for a full game," Moran said.

"Our offense isn't good enough right now to overcome too many

mistakes."

Jake Montoya paced Wheatland offensively with two hits and two runs scored.

The Zephyrs also received their share of strong pitching in the

contest. Michael Hoppes, who started on the mound, struck out six and

scattered five hits in four innings of work. Chase Wickard relieved

Hoppes on the hill in the fifth. Wickard struck out seven and allowed

four hits.

"Hoppes and Wickard did a great job," Moran said. "Our pitching's

been fine. We just have to swing the bats better."

Hoppes, Jackson Pahlke and Brian Colburn collected the three hits for

the Zephyrs. WESTCO threatened with runners in scoring position in

the first, fourth and fifth innings but stranded each one.

The Zephyrs (3-7) will be back in action on Saturday in Fort Morgan,

Colo. First pitch of the doubleheader is scheduled for noon.

In junior action on Wednesday, the WESTCO Express picked up a 5-3 win

over Douglas.

Andres Morales earned the win on the mound by pitching four innings

of scoreless baseball in relief of Eric Moreno. Both Morales and

Moreno struck out five.

Offensively for the Express, Joseph Sanchez went 2-for-3 and scored

two runs. Morales drove in two.

Seniors

Wheatland 101 200 2 - 6 9 2

Zephyrs (3-7) 000 000 0 - 0 3 2

WP - Dillon Grange; LP - Michael Hoppes (0-3).

3B - Jake Montoya. 2B - Eric Heatherly.

Juniors

Douglas 201 000 0 - 3 6 4

Express 301 100 x - 5 6 1

WP - Andres Morales; LP - Espeland.