Rangers Head to Cheyenne For Weekend Tournament

Another big weekend of action is ahead for the Laramie Rangers. They are part of the Cheyenne Post 6 Firecracker Tournament Thursday through Sunday.

Laramie (15-16) is one of five Wyoming teams, along with four from Colorado and one from Lubbock, TX in the field.

Coming of a disappointing 1-4 mark at last weekend’s Hladky Tournament in Gillette, Rangers manager Brandon Ruckman knows what has to change for his squad to be more competitive this weekend.

“We still need to play better defensively… making those routine plays, and still making the ones that are kind of like a step above routine that we need to make. Not spectacular by any means, but just a step above routine. Making those plays is what we need to do to compete with those better teams in those bigger tournaments.”

Laramie is in pool B with Pro Swing from Windsor, CO, the Parker (CO) Lightning, Denver Baseball 18U and the Cheyenne Hawks.

Pool A consists of Cheyenne Post 6, the Sheridan Troopers, Casper Oilers, Catalyst Baseball Academy from Golden, CO and Lubbock, TX.

Ruckman knows there are challenges ahead with that slate.

“It really depends on what team shows up. If it’s the team that showed up at the Gillette tournament, it’s going to be a rough tournament for us. If we can play a clean game, if get our sticks going early, we should be able to play with anybody, really.”

The Rangers will open against Pro Swing Thursday at 2:30 p.m. On Friday, Laramie takes on the Parker Lightning at 2:30 p.m. Saturday will be a doubleheader in pool play against Denver Baseball 18U at 4 p.m. followed by the Cheyenne Hawks at 6:30 p.m.

All the pool play games for Laramie will be Pioneer Park in Cheyenne.

Sunday’s action is cross-over match play with your game time and opponent to be determined.

KOWB will broadcast all the Rangers games from Cheyenne. Join David Settle, as he calls the action. Thursday’s game coverage will begin at 2:15 p.m.