EVANSTON — The Evanston Outlaws went 1-2 over the weekend against the Jackson Giants, dropping both ends of a AA West Conference doubleheader, 5-1 and 7-1, on Friday, July 19, before turning around with a blowout 16-1 non-conference win on Saturday, July 20.

 In Friday’s first game, beginning at 5 p.m., Evanston took an early 1-0 first-inning lead on a Ryan Fisher RBI-single that scored Reid Gross, but that was all the scoring Post 41 could muster against Post 43 in the first of two back-to-back games. 

The Post 43 Giants scored on a single by Bleggi, a single by Walker and a single by Lang in the bottom of the second inning to take a 3-1 advantage.

Neither team scored in the third through the fifth innings but the Giants added two insurance runs in the sixth inning to seal the victory.

Bleggi earned the win for the Giants. He lasted seven innings, allowing two hits and one run, while striking out nine.

Fisher took the loss for Evanston, allowing eight hits and five runs over six innings, while striking out two.

Fisher and Derf Periman each had a hit to lead the Outlaws.

The Giants totaled eight hits as Walker, Christianson, and Lang all managed multiple hits for Jackson. The Giants didn’t commit a single error in the field while Evanston committed two. 

In Friday’s nightcap, which got underway at 7:30 p.m., Evanston fell behind early and couldn’t come back in a 7-1 loss. The Giants scored on a single by Bruno and a triple by Bleggi, along with an Evanston error for another Giants’ run all coming in the opening at-bats for Jackson, to lead 3-0, with the first inning in the books. The Giants added one run in the bottom of the second, fourth and fifth innings to extend the lead to 6-0, before the Outlaws were able to get on the board in the top of the sixth inning, when a Casey Periman sacrifice fly scored Derf Periman for Evanston’s lone run of the ballgame.

Christianson pitched the Jackson Giants to victory. He surrendered one run on eight hits over seven innings, striking out five.

Lloyd took the loss for Evanston, allowing five runs on five hits through three innings, while striking out two.

The Outlaws had eight hits in the game, despite scoring just one run. Brendan Thompson, Jagger Mitchell and Lloyd all had two hits for Post 41. 

Jackson scattered nine hits on the day, with Bleggi, Ellingson, and Fairbanks all managing multiple hits for the Giants.

On Saturday, Evanston coasted to an easy 16-1victory over Jackson. Gus Allred got things started in the first inning when he singled on a 2-0 count, scoring  Lloyd. A Derf Periman single knocked in Fisher prior to a Thompson double which allowed Allred and Periman to cross the plate, giving Evanston a 4-0 first-inning lead.

The Outlaws added seven runs in the fourth inning. with Derf Periman, Thompson, Gross and Lloyd all driving in runs in the frame.

Ethan Beus was the winning pitcher for Evanston. He allowed three hits and one run over five innings, while striking out one and not allowing a walk.

Moya took the loss for the Jackson Giants. He surrendered 15 runs on 16 hits over four innings, while striking out two.

The Outlaws racked up 17 hits in the game. Derf Periman, Gross, Lloyd, Casey Periman, Beus, Thompson, and Allred all ended with multiple hits for Evanston, with Lloyd, Gross, and Derf Periman showing the way with three hits each. The Outlaws  didn’t commit a single error in the third consecutive game against Jackson, with Mitchell making the most plays with five.

Evanston will now have the better part of the week to prepare for the state tournament in Gillette, July 26-30. Head coach Jason Lloyd previously told the Herald the Outlaws may host a team or possibly a pair of teams from the Ogden, Utah, area in a tune-up game or two, prior to the state tournament, but nothing was yet definative.

The Outlaws actually went 3-0 against the Giants during the season in non-conference affairs but the Giants bested Evanston in the two games which counted most, in AA West Conference competition.

The final conference standings, with overall record first, followed by conference record, are as follows:

AA West

Casper Oilers                                      40-16-1, 6-0

Jackson Giants                                   33-21-1, 4-2

Evanston Outlaws                              21-24,    2-4

Rock Springs Sand Puppies              18-30,     0-6

AA East

Gillette Roughriders                           60-18,    4-0

Sheridan Troopers                               28-22,    2-2

Laramie Rangers                                 13-36,    0-4

Cheyenne Post Six                              50-21      **

** — Cheyenne Post Six has opted not to compete in the 2019 AA state tournament so their conference standings have been ruled null and void.