ALWS Game 9: Wyoming rallies to reach semifinals

Cheyenne (Wyo.) Post 6 came to the 2023 American Legion World Series as a novelty first-timer from the state of Wyoming.

After being the victim of only the third no-hitter in ALWS history in its first game, Cheyenne has crashed the party for Monday’s semifinals with back-to-back victories, including a come-from-behind rally to defeat defending champion Troy (Ala.) Post 70, 3-2, on Saturday night at Veterans Field at Keeter Stadium in Shelby, N.C.

“That was incredible,” Cheyenne coach Ty Lain said of his team’s three-run top of the seventh inning game-winning rally. “We showed a lot of toughness in that inning and, really, the whole night by falling behind 2-0 and keeping it within striking distance.”

The result clinched a Stars division runner-up finish for Post 6 (67-16), which will play the Stripes division winner on Monday at 4 p.m. The Stripes division semifinalists will be determined by Sunday games.

League City (Texas) Post 554 (25-3), which ends its pool play schedule on Sunday at 1 p.m. against Ellsworth (Maine) Post 207 is the Stars division champion regardless of that game’s result as they own the head-to-head tiebreaker over Cheyenne. League City is 2-0 in Shelby and Cheyenne is 2-1; League City beat Cheyenne 4-0 in Thursday’s opening game of the tournament.

The loss ended Troy’s season at 25-7.

Corey Williams threw 6 2/3 innings of scoreless relief with three strikeouts while yielding three hits and three walks and Kade Coates’ two-run single capped the winning rally.

“It’s a magical ride and it’s a special group,” Lain said. “We keep having our backs against the wall and finding ways to dig out of it.”

In the loss, Troy right-hander Tucker Jackson set a Shelby ALWS record with 15 strikeouts in 6 1/3 innings before being replaced after exceeding the 105-pitch limit.

And Troy reliever Tanner Taylor couldn’t stop the Post 6 rally.

Jackson left with runners on first and second with one out. Kaden Anderson greeted Taylor with a single to load the bases, then Nolan Horton’s hustle down the line on a grounder to shortstop avoided him being a game-inning double play and allowed one run to score.

After Braden Pearson was hit on a 1-2 pitch to again load the bases, Coates’ two-run single gave Cheyenne the lead.

In the bottom of the seventh, Williams retired Troy in order to close out the win and set off a victory celebration near the pitcher’s mound for the first team in Wyoming’s 92-year American Legion Baseball history to advance to the ALWS.

Anderson and Coates had two hits apiece to account for all four of Cheyenne’s hits.

Troy scored its only runs in the first inning when Mason Steele and Brady Richardson drew bases-loaded walks.