Little League teams prep for district play

Posted 7/19/12

Against Cody, Carson Heinen was able to keep the host squad silent for the first two innings as Powell’s pitcher, but was matched by his counterpart. Nate MaGill doubled for Powell in the second, but that was the extent of the team’s …

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Little League teams prep for district play

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The Powell majors and minors division all-star teams took part in an area tournament in Cody last week to determine seeding for this week’s district tournaments, which began play on Wednesday.

The Powell majors finished third behind Cody and North Big Horn Basin in that area event.

Against Cody, Carson Heinen was able to keep the host squad silent for the first two innings as Powell’s pitcher, but was matched by his counterpart. Nate MaGill doubled for Powell in the second, but that was the extent of the team’s offense.

Toby Hooper and Tyler Feller provided pitching relief for Powell in the third inning as Cody’s bats roared to life with 14 runs on 12 hits and three walks. Jon Moore and Garret Henderson singled in the third and fourth innings, respectively, as Powell attempted to answer, but as a whole the team remained at the mercy of Cody pitching, eventually falling on the tournament’s run rule at the conclusion of the fourth inning.

The next day’s game showed better hitting for Powell, but the end result remained slanted against the squad as North Big Horn posted a 9-6 victory.

Kaelen Groves reached first to open the game for Powell and, after some nifty baserunning, scored on Feller’s RBI single. Heinen also singled in the inning.

In the second, MaGill reached first along with Bennet Walker. Groves provided an RBI single to keep Powell within 3-2 on the scoreboard.

Heinen and MaGill each singled in the third but were stranded as the team failed to produce the key shot that would have driven the pair home. Powell trailed by four runs heading into the fifth, but Heinen scored on a Toby Hooper RBI double and Hooper scored on a double by MaGill. Reece Hackenburg closed out the scoring for Powell in the sixth as he raced home on Jacob Herd’s double to the outfield.

Powell was scheduled to open district tournament play against Green River on Wednesday afternoon. Riverton and North Big Horn are also on Powell’s half of the bracket. The opposite side sees Cody, Kemmerer and Lander slotted. Lander receives a first-round bye in the seven-team event.

The top two teams from the district event advance to the Wyoming state tournament.

In minors division action, Powell advanced to district competition after finishing 1-1 at the area tournament in Cody. The minors all-stars defeated Lovell 3-1 in a pitching duel, but fell by a 13-0 final to Cody in its other game.

Powell managed just four hits against Cody, compared to the 13 hits pounded out by their cross-county rivals in the contest. Cody was also efficient with their baserunners, bringing the majority around to score in the shutout vicory.

Against Lovell, Powell’s bats continued to struggle, but the team did what it needed to in order to earn a place on this week’s district tournament bracket. Colin Queen fanned a pair in the first inning as Powell’s starting pitcher, but the team stranded two runners on base in its half of the inning.

Lovell scored its only run in the second, doubling twice off Queen to score. Powell answered as Dacen Phister reached base on a walk and was advanced by Trevor Groves’ base hit. Garrett Stutzman also reached base to load the bags and all three boys eventually scored.

That would be all the offense Queen needed. The Powell starter recorded seven of nine outs via strikeout over the next three innings as he seemed unaffected by a short mid-game rain delay to notch the win for Powell and eliminate Lovell from the postseason.

Powell was scheduled to open district play against Kemmerer on Wednesday. Riverton and Green River are also on Powell’s half of the bracket. Cody, Bridger Valley, Rock Springs and Lander make up the opposite side of the eight-team event. The top two teams at the district meet advance to the Wyoming state tournament.

Both the minors and the majors division state tournaments will take place next week.

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