All-Stars cruise through their pool

Posted 7/27/10

The blitzkrieg in the batter's box provided all the offense the team would require in the game. Vogt, Tyler Patterson, Cooper Wise and Justin Lynn each took their turns on the hill as Powell opted to spread the semifinal innings amongst its pitching …

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All-Stars cruise through their pool

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Powell unchallenged in build-up to title gamePowell's Babe Ruth All-Stars jumped on Green River early, then finished the District 3 champs off with a late flurry on Saturday morning to reach the championship game. Powell advanced with a 14-3 victory in six innings. The local All-Stars removed the drama early in the semifinal game. Powell sent 13 batters to the plate in the top of the first inning and scored nine runs as a result. Hayden Cragoe's triple, Corey Elton's double and Frankie Vogt's single each drove in two Powell runs in the early onslaught.

The blitzkrieg in the batter's box provided all the offense the team would require in the game. Vogt, Tyler Patterson, Cooper Wise and Justin Lynn each took their turns on the hill as Powell opted to spread the semifinal innings amongst its pitching staff to prepare for the championship contest.

Pitchers at the state tournament were limited to a maximum of 12 innings of work.

The foursome held Green River to just six hits and three runs while combining for five strikeouts and a pair of walks. Green River scored one run in the bottom of the first and two more in the second inning, but got no closer.

Finally, in the sixth inning, Powell's bats broke out of their mid-game funk. The All-Stars again cycled through their entire batting order to throw five more runs on the board and send the scoreboard margin into run-rule territory. Cragoe added a two-run single to lift his total to four RBIs for the game. Brendan Phister added a two-run single with two outs to get Powell's lead into double figures.

The lopsided nature of Powell's semifinal game was strikingly similar to the team's performance through the pool stages of the state tournament. Powell opened with a 12-2 victory over the same Rock Springs team it would later meet for the state title. The team added a 16-4 five-inning win over Sheridan and a 9-4 victory over Laramie in a contest where the All-Stars were already assured of the top seed in their pool.

Justin Lynn and Cory Heny each doubled home a pair of runs in Powell's 12-2 opener against Rock Springs. Wise threw four shut-out innings on the mound, during which time he surrendered just three hits.

During those four innings, the Powell Babe Ruth squad built a 9-0 lead. Lynn came on to throw the final three innings in the contest.

The big inning came out of Powell's arsenal on Thursday against Sheridan as well. The All-Stars moved out to an early 5-1 lead, but the game still held drama. Sheridan trimmed the gap to three runs in the top of the fourth.

Then came the pain. Powell sent 15 batters to the plate in the bottom half of the inning. Patterson and Cragoe each singled home a pair of runs as, during one stretch of the fourth, Powell saw 10 consecutive batters reach base safely.

Powell's final game of the pool stage came against Laramie on Friday afternoon. With the top seed in pool play already secure, Powell coaches used the contest to gain valuable state tournament experience for everyone on the roster. Despite the lineup changes, the All-Stars were in comfortable control from start to finish in a 9-4 affair.

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