The Jackson Giants 2021 season comes to an end with a pair of early losses at state. The Jackson Giants gave it all they had in the opening game loss and had little left for a consolation round routing the following day.
Laramie 5, Jackson 4
The Giants arrived in Laramie in a good mindset and playing their best baseball of the season. With Kade Foulke taking the rock in game one on Monday, Coach Jason Huggins had to feel good about his chances to pull off an opening round upset.
Foulke did his part, quieting Rangers bats through the first 5 innings until his offense could get on track. Foullke surrendered just 2 runs on 4 hits. He struck out 7 and walked just 2.
After allowing the Rangers a run in the 3rd, the Giants bats finally came to life in the 6th inning. Bridger Hammond led off the inning working his way on with a walk. After Xander Witt was caught looking, Parker Bleggi banged a triple to left, scoring Hammond easily. Ayden Gralund was hit by a pitch. Then singles from Matt Fisher, Steven Ashurts, and a double by Alex Nissenberg had the Giants up 4-1 headed into the bottom of the 6th where the Rangers picked up a lone run to cut the lead to 4-2.
Bleggi could not close things out, however. On in relief, the righthander walked three, surrendered a hit, and took the loss for the Giants when Austin VanSkike’s error allowed the winning run to cross the plate.
Oilers 23, Jackson 1
Jackson never could recover from the emotional loss Monday. They came out flat against Casper on Tuesday. The Oilers put up crooked numbers in every inning, taking an early 10-0 lead after 3 innings and then added a blowout 7-run inning in the 4th, with 6 more in the 5th.
No Giant pitcher could get any outs with consistency. Starter Steven Ashurts ended up taking the loss but Mason Wright, Austin VanSkike, Alex Nissenberg, and Aaron Huggins all got walloped pretty good—as the Giants were outhit 15-5 while committing 3 errors to none for the Oilers.
The loss ends the season for Jackson. Post 43 finishes the 2021 campaign at 14-43.
