DOUGLAS – The Wheatland Lobos outhit their three District opponents 27-18 and scored 28 runs to their opponents 20 runs. In the end, they bowed out of the tournament losing two of three games.
The district tournament began Monday afternoon for the Lobos and expectations were high facing Sheridan in the first game. The Lobos top ace Ryland Petroski started on the bump and ran into a Sheridan machine that would not leave the second inning. Petroski who had strong stuff on the mound struck out 10 Jet batters.
The six-run second inning was something the Lobos could never quite recover from and although they were only down 7-4 in the middle of the fifth, Sheridan came up with three big insurance runs in the bottom of five. From there they hung on and shut down Wheatland 10-6.
Only four batters managed to connect for hits in the game as they left 11 men stranded on the bases. Petroski took the loss for the Lobos and Langdon Goodrich came on in relief pitching in the final two innings.
The loss sent the Lobos to the consolation bracket and next up, their Tuesday opponent would be Buffalo. Goodrich started for the Lobos and ended up going the distance mercy-ruling the Bulls by a score of 15-1. He recorded six strikeouts in the victory.
The offensive output was one of the best showings that the Lobos had generated in the last few weeks getting 14 hits. Kade Preuit was 3-4 to lead the Lobos and he had three RBIs. Noah Whitfield also recorded three RBIs. Petroski, Aric Suko, JP Anderson and Austin Warren each recorded two hits apiece.
The victory put the Lobos back in the driver’s seat and they would control their own destiny, but the task would not be easy as they played Cheyenne who has been a thorn in their side all year.
Although they matched the Hawks hit for hit, they fell behind early and never recovered. They lost 9-7 in a game that was a nail-biter all the way to the end. Preuit got the call to pitch in his very last high school baseball game and Cheyenne came out loaded for bear, lighting up the board for nine runs in the first two innings.
Although Anderson came in and pitched a strong game in relief, striking out six, giving up only three hits and no runs, the Lobos came to the end of their season, and for at least four of the players, their final game in a Lobos uniform.
Petroski had the hot bat Wednesday afternoon going 3-4 and collecting two RBIs. Whitfield also did well at the plate hitting 2-3 and collecting two RBIS. Preuit led the team with three RBIs. The Lobos played error-free baseball and nearly earned themselves an extension to their season, but as they say in baseball, wait ‘till next year.
In a post on Facebook, first-year coach Braden Fagenbush praised his team’s effort.
“The Lobos lost to the Cheyenne Hawks 9-7 in a loser out game,” Fagenbush said. “The Lobos will not be heading to state this year. This was not due to a lack of effort though; these young men fought their tails off. I honestly couldn’t be more proud.
“The sad part of a season ending is losing the guys that have put a lot of time, effort, dedication, energy, and leadership into our program. Noah, Langdon, Jake, and Kade have given this program everything they had to offer. I can’t thank you all enough for the great experiences that we have all shared together! I can promise you though these 4 men have left a legacy behind and showed our “young” guys what it takes to be a Lobo and what type of dedication you have to have to be successful. Thank you fellas for everything! But don’t worry the Lobos will be hitting the off-season hard and will be ready to go next season.
“I would like to thank our sponsors without you great selfless company’s/ individuals we wouldn’t be able to run our program. I would like to thank our board Beth, Joe, Martin, Tracy, Jen, LeAnn, and Quent. I would also like to thank our parents for supporting what the coaching staff is trying to do and being their for your athlete in tough time and in good times. I would like to thank our players for showing up, buying in and handling business. I would like to thank our fans who have stuck with us through thick and thin! I can’t thank our coaching staff enough for being so energetic, selfless, and grinding day in and day out! Thank you all for what you do to make Lobos baseball successful! Go Lobos!”
Wheatland 6 – Sheridan 10
3B: A Suko, TB: J Hicks, A Suko 3, L Goodrich, R Petroski, HBP: K Preuit, A Warren, SB: J Hicks, L Goodrich, R Petroski, LOB: 11
L: R Petroski, P-S: L Goodrich 13-8, R Petroski 109-60, WP: L Goodrich, HBP: R Petroski, BF: L Goodrich 5, R Petroski 27
Wheatland 15 – Buffalo 1
2B: A Warren, TB: J Hicks, A Warren 3, K Preuit 3, J Anderson 2, A Suko 2, L Goodrich, N Whitfield, R Petroski 2, SAC: N Schaffner, SB: J Hicks 2, A Warren, K Preuit, A Suko 2, LOB: 2
W: L Goodrich, P-S: L Goodrich 51-36, HBP: L Goodrich, BF: L Goodrich 16
Wheatland 7 – Cheyenne 9
2B: N Whitfield 2, R Petroski 2, TB: N Whitfield 4, K Preuit, A Warren 2, N Schaffner, R Petroski 5, HBP: L Goodrich, SB: R Petroski, LOB: 9
L: K Preuit, P-S: J Anderson 66-41, K Preuit 50-25, WP: K Preuit 2, BF: J Anderson 18, K Preuit 15
