Opening night for the 2021 legion baseball season for the WESTCO Zephyrs produced a late run for the win and plenty to build on moving forward as the Z’s knocked off Douglas, WY by the final of 5-4 at Cleveland Field.
After Douglas got two runs in the top of the seventh inning to tie the game 4-4 it was the Zephyrs taking advantage of a couple Douglas miscues defensively to set themselves up for the win.
Jerrett Richter led the inning off by reaching on a error. Hunter McCollum followed with a fielders choice ground out as Richter was retired at second base. McCollum then stole second base. That brought Dario Rodriguez to the plate, who grounded one to short where it was misplayed into left field and McCollum came around to score the winning run.
Douglas had the early advantage with single runs in the second and fourth innings while the Zephyrs were a little slow to get the offense going on their side, stranding five total runners through the first four frames.
WESTCO would get things going in the fifth. Keegan Nation led off and reached on a error and then four straight base hits; Wyatt Haught lined a single to right, Richter followed with run scoring single, McCollum then singled, and finally Rodriguez ripped a two-run single as the Z’s went in front 4-2.
Looking at the pitchers for the Z’s in this one it was McCollum getting the start, he went three innings and allowed one unearned run with five strikeouts. Rodriguez relieved and after a shaky first inning where he walked three, eventually he settled in and struck out five and two runs (one earned). After walking the leadoff man to start the seventh Rodriguez was lifted in favor of Haught, who was a little shaky to start but then got two big outs. After Douglas tied the game 4-4, Haught recorded a strikeout and got a groundout to leave the bases loaded. Haught was credited with the win.
The Zephyrs will be in action again on Saturday when they play a road doubleheader at Laramie.
Douglas 0 1 0 1 0 0 2 — 4 6 3
WESTCO 0 0 0 0 4 0 1 — 5 8 4
WP: Wyatt Haught (1-0)
RBI: Rodriguez 2, Richter 1
