The Casper Oilers scored eight runs in the first inning and knocked out the Laramie Rangers with a 17-7 win Monday night at the 2019 ‘AA’ State Baseball Tournament.

Casper remains undefeated as they enter Championship Tuesday. They will face the Jackson Giants in the title game. Jackson must be the Oilers twice to win the title, while Casper needs only one victory.

The first seven batters reached safely, as Casper jumped on Laramie thanks to four hits, three walks, and a hit batter. Three of the hits were extra-base hits, which included back-to-back triples by Carter Young and Corbin Kirk.

The Oilers added a run in the second and three in the third for a 12-0 lead. Another five runs in the fourth made it 17-0.

Laramie rallied with seven runs in the bottom of the fourth. Ben Ruckman had an RBI-single that was misplayed and led to two more runs. Jake Vigen followed with another RBI-single, and two batters later Aidan Morris contributed a two-run triple.

The Rangers loaded the bases in the fifth, but a ground out ended the game on the 10-run mercy rule.

Young led Casper with a pair of doubles, a triple, and four RBI’s. Harrison Taubert added three hits, including a double, before he left in the fourth with an injury. Four more Oilers had two RBI’s apiece. Casper had 15 hits, walked 10 times, and produced three sacrifice flies that scored runs.

Daniel Roberts benefitted as the winning pitcher. He went four innings and allowed seven runs, six earned, on five hits. Roberts struck out four but walked five.

The Rangers were led by Tyler Oppie, who had two hits and walked once. Laramie had six total hits and walked six times. Caleb Eaton was the losing pitcher. He failed to make it out of the first inning. On 57 pitches, Eaton gave up eight runs, four earned, on four hits. He walked three and struck out two with a hit batter.

Casper will play Jackson the State Championship game at Hladky Memorial Stadium in Gillette. First pitch is at noon Tuesday.

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