By MARK REIN
For the Star-Herald
The WESTCO Express received a complete game pitching performance from 
Eric Moreno to open the WESTCO Tournament with a 7-3 win Friday 
afternoon over Buckley Bombers at Cleveland Field in Scottsbluff.
The Express, however, couldn't keep the momentum going over Mullen in 
the nightcap, falling to the Colorado junior team 7-4, after a 
furious comeback. The other game Friday had Buckley Bombers facing 
Mullen.
The WESTCO tournament continues today and Sunday with five games both 
days. The Express will play the final game each day, facing Ft. 
Morgan, Colo., on Saturday at 8 p.m. and then Wheatland on Sunday at 
5:30 p.m.
In the opener against Buckley, Moreno went the distance allowing just 
two hits while pitching seven innings. Moreno struck out four and 
walked five in getting the win. The win snapped the Express's 
doubleheader loss to North Platte on Thursday evening.
WESTCO scored three times in the third inning to take a 3-2 lead 
before scoring twice in the fourth inning and twice more in the sixth 
inning to get the win.
Joe Sanchez paced the Express from the plate with a 3-for-4 game with 
two runs scored and two RBIs. Also collecting two hits and scoring 
two runs each in the win were Joe Moran, Ty Wilson, and Joe Ramirez.
Sanchez also had two RBIs and a double in the game.
In the second game, the Express put up six hits and came back from a 
2-0 deficit in the game to tie the game at 4-4 in the fifth before 
giving up three runs in the sixth inning.
James Persinger suffered the loss, going all seven innings and 
allowing 10 hits and striking out two.
Sanchez paced the Express with a 2-for-4 game with two doubles.
 
First Game
Chappell 002 001 0 - 3 2 4
WESTCO 003 202 x - 7 10 3
WP - Eric Moreno, LP - R. Rochlitz; 2B - Express (Sanchez, Wilson), 
Chappell (J. Barnett).
 
Second Game
Mullen 110 113 0 - 7 10 2
WESTCO 000 220 0 - 4 6 2

WP - J. Keelan, LP - James Persinger; 2B - Express (Sanchez 2, Wilson, Moran).