The Casper Oilers held off the Cody Cubs on Friday night to advance to the North District title game. The Cubs struck first in the top of the third inning on a Jeremy Tuten double that scored lead off hitter Jacob Welch. The Oilers would respond in the bottom half with a four spot starting with RBI doubles from Sean Robison, Marcus Loucks, and Alex Hill.
The Cubs would plate another run in the fifth to make a 4 to 2 ball game and threaten in the top of the sixth as they chased Oiler starter Marcus Loucks from the game after six and a third. Loucks loaded the bases with three walks and it was reliever Josh Atkinson would come in and get Daniel Sinner to line out to Zane Mathson who touch second for the inning ending double play. The Oiler would go on to add three more runs of their own in the bottom half of the sixth as Alex Hill, Aren Williams, and Zane Mathson crossed the plate to put the Oilers ahead 7 to 2.
The Cubs would add a three run inning of their own as they sent eight batters to the plate collecting three runs, on three hits and three walks to make it a 7 to 5 ball game. The Oilers would add one more in the eighth on a Zane Mathson double, Jake Loundagin sacrifice, and Lane Fischer RBI single.
Alex Hill came out in the ninth to earn the save for the Oilers facing four batters and striking out two, Hill was also 4 for 5 on the night in the lead off spot.
Cubs starter Don Brockus worked seven and a third innings for the Cubs and kept the Oiler hitters off balanced despite the two big innings. Marcus Loucks worked six and third innings for the Oilers allowing two runs both unearned on two hits. He struck out five and issued six free passes.
The Oilers will take on the Powell Pioneers at 7:30pm on Saturday and the Cubs will face the Douglas Cats in a loser out contest at 12:30.
