Big scoring innings in the first, third, and fifth carried the Alliance Seniors past Laramie 18 to 8 in action on Thursday. Laramie led 6 to 5 after two frames of action before the Peltz Co tallied six runs in the third and added 6 more in the fifth in getting their 13th win on the year. Spartan Mike Johnson had an outstanding game, garnering 4 hits including a homer in the third. Alliance ended the contest with 16 knocks. Carver Nemnich added three in the five inning ball game. Nemnich was also strong on the mound, going 5 innings and striking out five. The game was played in Rapid City as part the Veteran’s Classic tournament.
No shortage of runs in the first. The Spartans were the visitors and quickly put 5 in the scorebook. Tony Escamilla walk to start the scoring and advanced after a hit by Espen Lanik. A wild pitch then made it 1 to 0. Next up was Kobe Strom who tripled in the Senior’s second score. The Alliance advantage then went to 5 after an RBI hits by Nason Thompson, Kegan Rodriguez, and Johnson. The Rangers came right back with a solid bottom of the first. Laramie used a couple of walks and hits to surge ahead 6 to 5. Inning 2 was quiet with no scores by either clubs. Alliance did get a hit by Escamilla but no runs. After 2 frames of play, the Peltz Co was down 6 to 5.
Six runs in the top of the third helped the Seniors retake the lead. Jaxson Esparza walk and later scored on an RBI double by Nemnich. An error and a steal home then brought up Johnson whose 2 run shot made it 9 to 6. The scored continued with big hit by Escamilla, Lanik, and Thompson. Laramie failed to score in the home half and the contest went to the fourth with Alliance up 11 to 6. The Spartans added to their advantage in the top of inning 4. A triple by Nemnich was followed by a sacrifice fly Rodriguez, making it 12 to 6. Johnson had his third knock but no other runs were scored. The Rangers went down in order in the home half with Nemnich having 2 strikeouts.
Up 6, the Seniors put the game away with 6 more runs in their at bat in the top of the fifth. Walks to Lanik and Thompson along with a hit batter and a wild pitch, made the score 13 to 6. The rally came to a close with the Peltz Co getting RBI knocks by Nemnich, Esparza, and Johnson. Laramie used a 2 run triple in their last at bat but it wasn’t enough.
Final Spartans 18 Rangers 8
All 5 0 6 1 6 18
Lar 6 0 0 0 2 8
Hits of the Seniors Johnson 4 Nemnich 3 two each Escamilla Lanik and Thompson 1 apiece Strom Esparza and Rodriguez.