Rise of the rookie

Brock Jones took the mound for the first time against the Douglas Cats and struck out multiple batters.
By: 
Ryan Mitchel Collins

The plan is to get some of the younger players on the roster experience. After all, the future is in their hands. They’re the ones who will carry the torch next year and beyond.

The plan was in action last Friday night when the Knights took on the Douglas Cats Babe Ruth team at Glenrock High School.

Working some of the new guys into the rotation is not always the easiest transition to do, but with time and patience, results will come. Like Brock Jones, who took the mound for the first time ever against Douglas. He pitched for four innings and held his own, according to head coach Allen Jennings. “It was his first time on the mound,” Jennings said. “He did absolutely fantastic.”

Jones struck out seven Douglas batters in four innings of work. Not too shabby for his first time out on the mound.

Coming off a long weekend that involved two games against rival Douglas, a scrimmage, and two games against the Wheatland Lobos in Wheatland, the younger players in the rotation and roster saw some live action and gained valuable experience that will help them in the state tournament games and for next year.

The Knights swept the two games against their rivals Douglas Friday night in Glenrock, winning the first game 15-7 and taking the second game 20-4.

The momentum gained from the Douglas game was short lived as the Knights traveled to Wheatland to face the Lobos on a rainy Sunday, that saw a delay in the second game.

“We struggled on the mound down in Wheatland,” Jennings said.

The Knight ended up losing the first game in seven innings 7-9. The contest was hotly contested in a back and forth affair that saw the Knights give up a couple runs late that they never recovered from. In the second game, the Knights played five innings and were delayed by rain in an eventual 10-1 loss.

The loss was compounded by the heat and sudden rainstorm that delayed the Knights for over an hour.

Next up for the Knights is Casper in Casper on Friday night at 5 p.m. and 7 p.m.

The Casper game will be the last chance for the Knights to do any preparation for the state tournament which starts July 19.

The starting lineup for the Casper game will be the same lineup the Knights take into state.

“We’re going to work all our pitchers through the rotation in the two games on Friday night,” Jennings said. “Each pitcher will pitch a couple innings and then we’ll move on. That way we get a good look at all of them in the last live action before state.”

The Knights will get one last chance to hone their skills in Casper on Friday night and get ready for the all important state tournament that is the ultimate deciding factor for a season.

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Glenrock Independent

Physical Address:506 W. Birch, Glenrock, WY 82637 Mailing Address: PO Box 109, Douglas, WY 82633 Phone: (307) 436-2211

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