JACKSON HOLE, Wyo. — The Giants looked as good as they have all season in grabbing a win over the Casper Oilers in the first game of a doubleheader Tuesday. In the nightcap, well, who was that team wearing Jackson uniforms?
Jackson 6, Casper 1
Aaron Huggins (5-3) picked up the win for the Giants as the big righty threw an impressive 96 pitches through the first 6 innings before giving way to Trayson Kostial who picked up his 3rd save of the season.
Both teams traded solo dingers in the 1st inning. Kaeden Wilcox smacked his to give the Oilers a brief 1-0 lead before Kostial connected in the bottom half of that inning. Kostial would hit his team-leading 6th home run of the season later in the game.
A 4-run inning in the 2nd was all Jackson needed, highlighted by a clutch 2-out, 2-RBI single from Ayden Gralund after Coach Jason Huggins had Xander Witt bunt a pair of runners into scoring position.
Casper 15, Jackson 2
Post 43 suddenly turned into the Bad News Bears in the nightcap as they seemed to be sleepwalking through the contest.
Starter Xander Witt took the loss but received little defensive or offensive support from his teammates who were sloppy in the field (4 errors and numerous mental mistakes), and lifeless at the plate until he had departed.
It wasn’t until the bottom of the 5th that the Giants were able to scratch across any runs but it was too little, too late to catch the Oilers, who pounded out 13 hits for 15 runs.
Ethan Garner’s 3-4 day was the Giants only offensive highlight. Owen Khanna was Jackson’s only pitcher who looked like he wanted to be on the mound as he worked a scoreless 7th.
Next up
Jackson is now 22-23 on the season and are chasing Casper, who is one slot ahead of them in the conference standings. The Giants hit the road again for away games against Loveland, Billings, and Sheridan at a tournament in Billings on June 30 through July 3. They will also face undetermined opponents on Saturday and Sunday of that tourney.
