The American Legion Outlaws baseball team traveled to Riverton this past weekend to play their first game against Riverton and then the American Legion Post 41 baseball team faced Green River.

On Saturday, the American Legion Outlaws mounted an amazing comeback but fell short when they played Riverton in the morning. The Outlaws were down 4-0 at the top of the first inning. 

Outlaws’ pitcher Griffen Mitchell walked a Riverton player and then Riverton singled on a ground ball to third baseman Seth Lloyd. With players on first and third bases, the Outlaws were facing a tough situation. Then J. Washington singled on another grounder to third and C. Frazier scored Riverton’s first run. Then D. Fabricus doubled on a fly ball to center field and Riverton had its second run. The Outlaws walked another player and then Riverton hit a single fly ball to left field and Riverton added two more runs to their score. 

The Outlaws were behind 4-0 and were happy to take their turn at bat.

Brandon Wicks singled on a ground ball to Riverton’s shortstop and then Mitchell singled on a grounder to first base. Wicks was able to advance to third base. Hunter Hicks was out after a ground ball to second base but Wicks helped to close the gap by scoring a run and Mitchell stopped at third base.

Seth Lloyd stepped up to the plate and singled on a line drive to left field and Mitchell scored. The first inning ended with Riverton leading 4-2.

In the bottom of the fifth inning, Braedon MacDonald singled on a line drive to left field and then Wicks singled on another line drive to left field. This play by Wicks allowed MacDonald to score, making the score 4-3 in favor of Riverton. It was the last run either team would make.

Facing Green River again

On Sunday the American Legion Outlaws went back and forth against the Green River Knights but were able to emerge with the win 9-7 on Sunday.

In the bottom of the second inning Beau Lloyd walked and then stole second on an error by the Green River catcher. Cris Periman doubled on a fly ball to left field and Lloyd scored the Outlaw’s first run. 

The top of the third inning would belong to the Knights.

Talbert Bowen singled on a line drive to left field and Outlaws pitcher Brandon Wicks hit Andrew Munoz with a pitch and Bowen advanced to second base. Wicks walked Tommy Kelly.

With the bases loaded Brendan Hopkins gounded into a fielder’s choice to third baseman Beau Lloyd. Both Bowen and Munoz scored and Kelly held up at third base. Blake Gelinas walked up to the plate and doubled on a fly ball to left field, allowing both Kelly and Hopkins to score.

The Knights grabbed an early 4-1 lead.

In the bottom of the fourth inning Griffen Mitchell singled on a ground ball toward second base and then Hunter Hicks walked. Seth Lloyd would soon follow with a walk of his own, loading the bases. Beau Lloyd grounded out to the shortstop but it allowed Mitchell the opportunity to score. Periman singled on a ground ball to right field and both Hicks and Seth Lloyd scored runs, tying the game at four.

In the bottom of the fifth inning MacDonald doubled on a fly ball to center field and then Wicks hit a fly out to left field and MacDonald advanced to second base. 

MacDonald stole third base and then an error by Green River catcher Ramsay Taliaferro allowed the Outlaws to score their fifth run when MacDonald was safe at home plate. The American Legion Outlaws took the lead back 5-4.

It wouldn’t last. 

In the top of the sixth inning, Outlaws’ pitcher Seth Lloyd hit Brenden Hopkins with a pitch and he took his base, and then stole second base. He advanced to third base on an eror by shortstop MacDonald and then scored on a error by catcher Reid Gross, tying the score at five.

Blake Gelinas walked and then Ian Ebert tripled on a fly ball to left field and Gelinas scored and the Knights regained the lead 6-5. They increased their lead when Karson Buetel walked and then Ebert was able to steal home. Taliaferro grounded out with Green River leading 7-5.

Evanston was able to turn the game around in the bottom of the sixth inning. Beau Lloyd singled on a ground ball to left field and then Periman grounds toward the shortstop. Beau Lloyd held up at second base. 

Brenden Thompson singled and Periman advanced to third base. 

Periman scored on an error by the first baseman and Thompson advanced to second base. Reid Gross walked to first and the gap had started closing in on the Knights, leading 7-6.

MacDonald singled on a fly ball to left field and Thompson scored.

With the score tied 7-7 and runners in scoring position, Gross was able to put the Outlaws back in the lead when he scored on a wild pitch. The Outlaws had regained the lead and did not want to look back. Griffen Mitchell walked and the bases were loaded when Hunter Hicks singled on a ground ball to second base. MacDonald scored and the Outlaws took over a solid lead, 9-7, which they did not give up.