By Taylor Deutscher

Back at Clint Lightner Field after a week of road games, the Garden City Wind (8-20) fell to the Alpine Cowboys (15-13) in their first match up of the season. The Cowboys defeated the Wind 9-2.

Garden City held within three runs going into the seventh inning, but Alpine scored three more runs to extend their lead 8-2. The Cowboys sealed the deal with their ninth and final run in the final inning.  

The Wind gave up two early runs, allowing three consecutive singles after a leadoff walk. They were able to tie it up in the second with two runs of their own, but Daniel Aldrich’s solo home run in the third gave the Cowboys their lead back, which they would not give up for the rest of the game.

Tyler Lundgren sliced the ball down the left field line to score Brandon Cooksey from second. Lundgren moved around the bases to score on an error by Jarret Young with pitcher Gabe Cook up to bat.

Alpine’s pitching staff ended Rodney Polonia’s thirteen-game hitting streak.

Starter Daniel Thorpe struck out eight consecutive Wind batters, for 11 total. That included a four strikeout inning in the fifth, as Cook reached first on the dropped third strike. Thorpe picked up his second win (2-2) giving up just two runs - one earned - and two hits in seven innings pitched.

Nico Slater and Ryan Richardson each pitched hitless innings. Slater struck out the side in his eighth inning appearance.

Cook (2-1) took his first loss on the season with five runs, 10 hits and four strikeouts. He pitched a solid seven-pitch second inning.

 

The teams will return to the field for a 6:30 game Thursday evening.