Gillette’s Ryker Smith Earns WyoPreps Athlete of the Week Honor 7-17-25 [VIDEO]

Our most recent WyoPreps Athlete of the Week award goes to Ryker Smith from the Gillette Legion Baseball program. This was for the week of July 7 through July 13, 2025. Smith and Rustlers went 4-1 last week and posted two big wins over the conference-leading Casper Drillers. His pitching and clutch presence at the plate led to Smith’s selection. His play moved Gillette up one spot in the final conference standings.

WYOPREPS ATHLETE OF THE WEEK WINNER 7-17-25

Smith was instrumental in the Rustlers’ big week. He slowed down the Drillers in game one of a conference twin bill and got the win on the mound. He also had two game-winning hits last week. Smith allowed one run on five hits in a complete game victory over Casper, 2-1. The game one win included five strikeouts, only one walk, and 84 total pitches over seven innings. In the same game, Smith was 2-3 at the plate and smacked the go-ahead, game-winning RBI single in the bottom of the sixth to help Gillette to the victory. In the nightcap, Gillette out-slugged Casper, 17-16 in nine innings. Smith went 3-4 with three walks, 1 RBI, and three runs scored. With two outs in the bottom of the ninth, Smith hit a single to left field for his second consecutive game-winning hit, but this one was in walk-off fashion. For the week, Ryker had a .529 batting average, six RBIs, and two game-winning hits. He also helped Gillette go 2-1 at the UniWyo FCU Tournament in Laramie. The Rustlers have won six of their last eight games entering their post-season best-of-3 East District playoff series against Torrington.

WyoPreps caught up with Ryker on Thursday morning. He discussed his play last week, thanked and credited his teammates, touched on his pitching performance against Casper, his two big hits, where his focus has been down the stretch, and more.

Read More About Previous Athlete of the Week Winners from WyoPreps

WYOPREPS ATHLETES OF THE WEEK 7-9-25

WYOPREPS ATHLETES OF THE WEEK 6-19-25

WYOPREPS ATHLETES OF THE WEEK 6-13-25

WYOPREPS ATHLETES OF THE WEEK 6-5-25

WYOPREPS ATHLETES OF THE WEEK 5-29-25

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Congratulations to Ryker on being chosen as the WyoPreps Athlete of the Week!