EVANSTON — The Evanston Outlaws have one of their rare opportunities to play at home this Saturday in a doubleheader against the Pocatello Runnin’ Rebels. The team had a conference home doubleheader against the Rock Springs Archie Hay Post 24 Sand Puppies scheduled for this past Wednesday, June 12, but it appears those games will be rescheduled, due to a scheduling snafu. The Sand Puppies were competing in Denver versus the Colorado Rough Riders Prospects 17U, on June 12.

The Outlaws are 10-10 on the season so far, and are also even-steven with the Runnin’ Rebels, stemming from a doubleheader in Pocatello on June 8.

In the first game, the Outlaws fell behind early, as the Runnin’ Rebels utilized a barrage of hits to score five runs in the first inning and another five in the second to take a commanding 10-0 lead. Ryan Fisher started on the mound for Evanston and the college-bound baseball player just had a bad day through two innings, before Jagger Mitchell came on in relief, giving up ten runs on six hits, as no runs were scored due to errors in the field by the Outlaws. 

Mitchell held the home team in check through two scoreless innings but the Runnin’ Rebels did score two runs in the bottom of the fifth, to make it 12-2, and the game scheduled for seven innings was called after five, with the host team owning a double-digit advantage. Pocatello racked up the twelve runs scored on nine hits behind the bats of Hough, Jones, Woltenberger, Jester, Wilhelm and Curtiss.

Brendan Thompson went 2-2 at the plate to lead the Outlaws and Jordan Schneider knocked in both runs for Evanston.

The twin-bill would go all seven innings, with the Outlaws picking up a 10-8 victory. Reid Gross gave Evanston a 1-0 lead on a sacrifice  fly in the second inning. Evanston notched another run in the fourth and four more in the fifth to go up 6-0.

Seth Lloyd was on the hill for Evanston and held Pocatello scoreless through four innings. Lloyd surrendered three runs on eight hits through six innings, striking out two, with Fisher and Mitchell coming out of the bullpen in relief.

The 6-0 lead appeared to be in jeopardy as the Runnin’ Rebels staged a major comeback during the final three innings. Pocatello scored two runs in the bottom of the fifth, added another in the sixth and exploded for four runs as they particularly rallied in the bottom of the seventh, but the Outlaws prevailed in the last game they’ve played to date.

Lloyd led the Outlaws’ surge  on the offensive end, going 3-5 at the plate, including an RBI triple in the top of the seventh as part of a four-run inning for Evanston.

The team was hoping to play at least 50 games this season, but cancellations by the opposition may dictate otherwise. Right before press time, Outlaw skipper Jason Lloyd informed the Herald Pocatello was attempting to potentially cancel the trip to Evanston. Lloyd said he would not know until Friday  whether or not Evanston would host the Runnin’ Rebels. 

The doubleheader games were originally scheduled for around 2 and 4 p.m., and hopefully will come to pass, as the Outlaws do not have many opportunities to play before the hometown fans.

Seasonal stats to date are listed to the right.

The remainder of the 2019 Outlaw schedule, subject to change, is as follows:

June 15: Pocatello (DH)

June 20-23: at Laramie (schedule TBA)

June 25: Casper Oilers (DH)

June 28-July1: at Heber City, UT (schedule TBA)

July 4-7: at Jackson (schedule TBA)

July 12-14: at Casper (schedule TBA)

July 19: at Jackson Giants (DH)

July 20: at Jackson Giants (Non-Conference Game)

July 26-30: State at Gillette