Consistency at the plate the main focus for Worland Baseball

By ALEX KUHN

Sports Editor

WORLAND - Defense and pitching have been strong for the Worland Baseball 13U and are the team's go-to strengths this season. However, when it comes to their bats the results have not been to their liking.

Inconsistency at the plate has bothered Worland the most. Some games they will be locked in like they were in their wins against Casper, 10-0, and Gillette, 10-4, on June 9 in Casper. While other games it has been a struggle like in their 12-0 loss to Billings' Triple Play Vipers on June 10.

No. 3 and No. 4 hitters Landen Gilmore and Jorey Anderson have been the team's best hitters but if Worland is to take down those high-caliber teams, each hitter needs to contribute.

"Landon and Jorey are crushing the ball right now, they're every bit of the No. 3 and 4 hitters. They're coming through with their bats with runners on," said Worland Baseball coach Jerry Leyva. "The rest of the team is still working on their bats. We're just not very consistent, one game we'll hit the heck out of the ball and the next we can't hit anything. Rock Springs had a pitcher that just lobbed it in there and we couldn't hit it. We just couldn't sit back and wait, so they'd be way out in front of it and their front is clear out."

Added Leyva, "They're having a hard time adjusting to the different pitchers. We've been taking that first pitch but lately, we've been telling them to swing at the first pitch. At this level, most pitchers are looking to get the count advantage. When you're playing in these bigger tournaments you need consistent bats, you have to score runs. Because most those teams one through nine are able to hit and drive in runs."

Worland was in Casper on June 9-10 for a five-team tournament and went 3-1. Of those three wins, mercy ruling their rival, the Casper Crush, 10-0, was one of the top highlights from the tournament. Worland's youngest player, Isaiah Leyva, got the W from the mound.

"We 10-runned the Crush and usually Jerry [Jr. Leyva] pitches for us against them but this time we had Isaiah out there. When I told him he was pitching his eyes lit up, he went in there and pitched a full game. For being our youngest player, he had a heck of a game," said Leyva.

As Worland readies for their home tournament this weekend and the Rocky Mountain School of Baseball Firecracker tournament next weekend in Heber City, Utah, the focus in practice is their bats.

"Our defense is amazing and we're sitting pretty good with pitching. We can hold a team to four runs but when you can't get a consistent offense going that's when we get beat 4-3 or 4-0. So we've got a lot of work to do with our offense," said Leyva.

While Worland has had their struggles at the plate their defense has improved with each game and one player, in particular, Baxter Crawford, has made the biggest leap in his development.

"Baxter's come a long way. He's still working on his bat but his defense has come around. He's fielded the ball with more confidence and not sticking his glove off to the side. He's probably our most improved glove," said Leyva.

Worland takes the field this Saturday at Newell Sargent Park, on Field 1 at 4 p.m. against the Billings Black Sox. Afterward, they play the Billings Cobras at 7 p.m. Sunday Worland plays Cobras again at 11 a.m. on Field 1, then close out the tournament against the Black Sox at 1 p.m.