The Price American Legion Raptors made it a perfect 3-0 and brought home the Rangely, Colo. tournament title over the weekend by outscoring their opponents 44-7.
First up on Thursday was Rifle, Colo. Price jumped out to a quick 4-0 lead after the first inning and added three more in second for the 7-0 lead. After Rifle scored five in the third, Price responded with four more in the bottom of the inning and added another four in the fourth for the 15-5 win. Johnny Tallerico led the Raptors with three hits, going 3-4 with two singles and a double. Duncan LaCombe had two singles in the game. Dalton Bradley, Harley Barker and Gavin Robinette each added singles in the game. Alyjah Ellington pitched the entire game for the win.
Tallerico took to the mound on Friday in the team’s first of two games. Against host team Rangely, Tallerico turned in a complete-game shutout for the win. Price gave Tallerico plenty of run support, scoring 12 runs, five of which came in the sixth inning, which ultimately ended the game an inning early. LaCombe had the only extra-base hit in the game, a double in the fourth. Trevor Pummell, Barker, Bradley and Remington Motte all contributed singles in the win.
Friday’s second game for Price would determine the champion of the tournament. After beating Rangely, Rifle was up next for Price. Fifteen hits led to 17 runs for the Raptors that ended the game after just four innings, 17-2. Five players had at least two hits in the contest, led by Pummell who was a home run shy of the cycle, going 3-4 with a single, double and triple. Tyson Busch went 3-3 with three singles and a walk. Tallerico added a double and a single. Barker also had two hits, both singles, going 2-3 with a walk. Robinette was perfect at the plate, walking twice while legging out two singles. Pummell also got the win on the mound.
Price will have a busy final week of the season with doubleheaders on Monday at home against Green River, Wyo., Tuesday against St. George in Beaver and games against Roosevelt in Roosevelt on Thursday.
The American Legion tournament begins Monday at Layton High School. The Raptors’ playoff seeding has yet to be decided.