Knights compete in Bolln Wood Bat Tournament in Douglas

Last week, the Green River Knights Varsity Baseball team traveled to Douglas to compete in the Bolln Wood Bat tournament. The tournament took place Friday, July 5 through Sunday, July 9. In all, the Knights played five games.

Starting off with the Knights' first game, they played against the Rawlins Post 122 Bandits. In the first and second innings, the Bandits took the lead, scoring two runs. Then during the third inning, the Knights got on the score board with one run. Neither team scored in the fourth inning. Lastly, the Knights scored 12 runs in the fifth inning, causing the game to result in the Knights' victory, with a final score of 13-2.

Leading the team was Lander Welch with three runs. Following him were Brackin Lail, Ben Lail and Brody Fuller with two runs each, along with Skyler Lee, Ryker Dane, Jace Paoli and Dallyn Buschelman with one run each.

For the Knights' second game they again played against the Rawlins Post 122 Bandits. During this game, the Knights took the lead in the first inning, while the Bandits couldn't get on the board. The Knights then went on to score nine runs during the second inning, three in the third, and an additional two runs during the fourth. The game resulting in the Knights' clean win, with a final score of 15-0.

Leading the team this game were Dallyn Buschelman and Landon Smart with three runs each. Following were Jace Paoli and Jaydon Walther with two runs each, along with Karson Hansen, Ryker Dane and Braxton Doak with one run each.

On Saturday, the Knights played their third game of the tournament against the Torrington Tigers. In the first inning, the Knights scored one run to the Tigers' six. Then the Tigers scored five more runs during the second inning. Neither team scored any runs in the third inning. Lastly, the Tigers scored two additional runs in the fourth inning. The game ended in the Knights' loss with a final score of 1-13.

Leading the team with their single run in this game was Brackin Lail.

The Knights then played against the Douglas Cats for their fourth game. During the first two innings, neither team scored. For the third inning the Knights took the lead, scoring three runs to the Cats' one. The Knights then scored two runs to the Cats' one in the fourth inning. Turing the tables during the fifth inning, the Cats scored six runs. Neither team scored in the sixth inning. In the seventh inning, the Knights' scored three runs, causing a tie. Then in the eighth inning, continuing the tie, both teams scored one run. Finally, breaking the tie in the ninth inning, the Knights scored one more point. The game resulted in the Knights' close win, with a final score of 10-9.

Leading the team were Brackin Lail and Dallyn Buschelman with two runs each, along with Oliver Akin, Lander Welch, Skyler Lee and Zane Kovick with one run each.

On Sunday, the Knights played their last game against the Wheatland Lobos Varsity team. Starting the game in the first inning, the Lobos scored nine runs. Neither team scored in the second inning. Then in the third inning, the Knights pushed back, scoring four runs. Again, neither team scored in the fourth inning. Lastly, in the fifth inning, the Lobos scored five more runs, ending the game. The Knights lost with a final score of 4-14.

Leading the team were Brackin Lail, Oliver Akin, Ben Lail and Karson Hansen with one run each.

"We played pretty well," said Head Coach Ben Lail about the tournament, adding, "We beat the host team Douglas. On Saturday night Skyler Lee pitched phenomenal and Dallyn Buschelman came in close for us and he pitched fantastic. We also played Rawlins twice on Friday in conference games and beat them. So all around, we went three to two games on the weekend."

The Knights played another conference game on Wednesday this week against the Evanston Outlaws, and next they are playing in the South Western Wyoming District Legion Baseball Tournament that is taking place July 17 through 20. This year the tournament is being hosted here in Green River.

"Anytime we get to host a tournament and sleep in our own beds is a good thing," Coach Lail said. "So we're looking forward to it and looking forward to seeing the rest of the state."