We had some tough losses over the course of a bumpy season, but the girls worked to get better and peaked at the right time. I’m proud of each of them for all the work they put in. Despite individual struggles, they each stepped up and dedicated time to improve. It’s incredible as a coach to see this determination.”

Coach Marvin Jones

GILLETTE – The championship game between the Torrington Thunder 12U team and the Oil City Stars from Casper came down to the wire at the 2024 girls’ fast-pitch softball state tournament in Gillette on Sunday, July 14.

Casper found itself ahead, 9-5, after scoring three runs in the top of the fourth inning.

Digging deep, the Thunder rallied in the bottom of the fourth with 11 runs. 

Stepping up to bat, Harper Reimers advanced to second base with a double. LeeAnn Tittel followed up with a single, reaching second base on an error that drove Reimers home. 

Zaevrie Rios doubled, driving in Tittel. Taking the bat, Lily Lopez bunted to reach second while an error drove in Rios.

Reese Hendricks took her turn at bat and slammed a triple into the field, driving Lopez home and tying the game, 9-9.

Kenlee Struble hit a sacrifice grounder and Hendricks reached home for the Thunder to capture the lead, 10-9.

Regan Nicolay batted next, hitting a double to reach second base. Entering the batter’s box, Julia Stienmetz knocked a triple into the field and Nicolay raced home. 

Reimers rounded out the fourth inning with a single that drove Stienmetz.

The scoreboard tipped in the Thunder’s favor, 12-9.

A solid defense by Torrington fielders shut out the Oil City Stars in the fifth and sixth innings while the Thunder added another run in the bottom of the fifth to clinch the victory against Casper, 13-9 and garner the 12U state title in the ‘R’ division.

Torrington’s ability to rally from an early deficit against the Stars and battle back to win represented the team’s grit and determination at the season-culminating tournament.

“It feels great for the team to get the state title,” coach Marvin Jones said. “The team worked hard all season to get to this point. We had some tough losses over the course of a bumpy season, but the girls worked to get better and peaked at the right time. I’m proud of each of them for all the work they put in. Despite individual struggles, they each stepped up and dedicated time to improve. It’s incredible as a coach to see this determination.”

The Thunder kicked off the tournament in pool play on Friday with overwhelming wins against the Laramie Lightening (19-3) and the Lander Lady Legends (28-2) to snag the No. 1 seed going into bracket play on Saturday morning.

Coach Jones attributed part of the Thunder’s success to an “incredible” batting average of over 400. Several athletes on the team topped 500.

“Getting the bats going was a big reason for the win,” Jones said.

Torrington cruised past the Green River Shockwave, 17-9, in the first game of bracket play to advance to the quarterfinals where the Thunder 12U Jones team squared off against the Thunder 12U Audette team.

Despite a tenacious attempt by the 12U Audette to close an early lead by the 12U Jones, 12U Jones widened its lead in the bottom of the third inning to post the win, 22-12.

While both Torrington teams “kept each other fired up” throughout the rivalry game, there was plenty of sportsmanship on display and friendships rekindled once the dust settled, assistant coach Jeff Struble said.

Progressing to the semifinal game against the Oil City Stars, the Thunder fought back from behind to defeat Casper, 11-9, before beating the Stars again in the championship game.

“The girls stayed with it all weekend and never gave in,” Struble said. “The girls fought through adversity and came back to win in two close games. It was gratifying to get the state championship. I was born and raised in Torrington and to help the home team win was great. I’m proud of all the girls.”

Pool play

The first round of play in Pool A pitted the Thunder against the Laramie Lightening. The Thunder outscored Laramie, 4-1, in the first inning and Torrington posted two addition runs in the bottom of both the second and third innings to widen its lead, 7-2.

The Thunder sealed the win with an epic 12-run inning in the bottom of the fourth. Brinkley Hoffmann set the pace for Torrington in the fourth inning with a triple for three RBI. Rios and Tittel each singled for two runs apiece. Struble and Lopez both singled for one RBI and Gracie Jones drew a walk for one run.

Nicolay started as pitcher for the Thunder against Laramie, striking out two. Rios played relief and struck out two as well.

Maintaining its momentum into the second game of pool play, Torrington trounced Lander, 28-2.

The Thunder controlled the scoreboard in the opening two innings, outpacing Lander, 14-2, in the first inning and collecting 14 more runs in the second.

Torrington totaled 13 hits against Lander, led by Nicolay with three hits for three RBI. Struble posted two hits for four RBI. Lopez hit two singles for three RBI and Stienmetz contributed two hits.

Struble pitched both innings for Torrington, striking out three.

Bracket play – Green River

The Thunder opened the game against Green River with four runs in the top of the first. The Shockwave responded with six runs in the bottom of the first to pull ahead, 6-4.

Undaunted, Torrington rallied in the top of the second inning with 11 runs. Hendricks singled twice for a total of two RBI in the second. Nicolay hit a triple and a double for three RBI. Struble and Reimers both sacrificed grounders while Stienmetz scored a single run on a wild pitch.

The Thunders’ fielders held Green River to a single run in the bottom of the second. Two additional runs by Torrington in the top of the third inning sealed the victory for the Thunder.

The Thunder tallied nine hits throughout the game. Nicolay recorded three hits for four RBI, with Hendricks collecting three hits and two RBI. Stienmet contributed two hits with one by Rios.

Nicolay opened as pitcher for Torrington against Green River, striking out two. Rios played relief, striking out four.

Quarterfinal rivalry game

Torrington 12U Jones secured an early lead against 12U Audette with three runs in the bottom of the first inning and eight runs in the bottom of the second. A determined defense by 12U Jones fielders shut out 12U Audette in both the first and second innings.

12U Audette made a dent in 12U Jones’ lead with eight runs in the top of the third inning, but came up short in bridging the gap.

An 11-run third inning by 12U Jones clinched the win for the team. A triple and a double by Stienmetz resulted in five RBI in the bottom of the third. Reimers doubled for two RBI and followed up with a single for one run. Lopez, Nicolay and Hoffmann each contributed a single.

12U Jones collected a total of 17 hits against 12U Audette. Stienmetz set the momentum with three hits for seven RBI. Reimers tallied four hits for four RBI while Nicolay made three hits for two RBI. Lopez and Hedricks both added two hits with one apiece from Hoffmann, Tittel and Rios.

On the mound, Rios opened for 12U Jones, striking out five. Nicolay played relief.

Semifinals vs. Oil City Stars

The semifinal game between Torrington and Casper found the Oil City Stars up, 6-4, going into the third inning. Torrington’s fielders shut out Casper in the top of the third inning while the Thunder offense closed the Stars’ lead to a single point, 6-5, in the bottom of the third.

Casper widened its lead, 9-5, with two runs in the top of the fourth and one in the fifth. 

Refusing to throw in the towel, the Thunder defense stepped up its intensity to shut out Oil City in the top of the sixth. 

Stepping up to bat in the bottom of the sixth inning, Torrington took the lead with six runs. Lopez doubled for two RBI while Struble singled for one run. Nicolay took her turn at bat, capping the game off with a home run.

Overall, Torrington posted 15 hits against Casper, led by Lopez with four hits for three RBI. Nicolay, Reimers and Rios each contributed two hits with one apiece by Hendricks, Struble, Hofmann, Stienmetz and Tittel.

Rios started as pitcher for Torrington, striking out nine. Stepping in as relief, Nicolay struck out one.

Championship game

Torrington squared off against the Oil City Stars for a final showdown in the title game. 

Casper won the first inning, 5-0. Torrington’s fielders shut out Casper in the top of the second inning while the Thunder scored five runs in the bottom of the second to tie the game, 5-5.

Tittel and Hendricks both singled for two RBI each in the second while Lopez drove in one run with a single.

Casper retook the initiative, 6-5, with a single run in the top of the third inning. The Stars expanded their advantage, 9-5, with three runs in the top of the fourth.

Determined to stay in the game, Torrington roared back in the bottom of the fourth inning with seven runs to pull into the lead, 12-9.

The Thunder defense shut out Casper in the top of the fifth inning. Rios struck out two as pitcher and Hendricks delivered a pass to Reimers at third base for the third out.

Torrington scored an additional run in the bottom of the fifth inning when Lopez stole third base and reached home on a wild pitch.

The Thunder once again shut out Casper in the top of the sixth. Rios fielded a line drive and struck out one. Stienmetz, playing catcher, caught the ball and delivered it to Rios for out No. 3 as the Oilers made a last-ditch effort to steal home.

Torrington tallied 15 hits against Casper. Lopez and Rios collected three hits while Hendricks, Tittel, Stienmetz and Reimers each posted two with one by Nicolay.

Rios pitched for Torrington in the championship game, striking out nine.