Home Runs Power Gillette Past Casper at State Tournament [VIDEO]

In a game that featured four home runs, two were grand slams, Gillette pulled away from Casper, 14-4, at the ‘AA’ State Tournament in Rock Springs on Saturday.

Gillette’s victory moves them onto ‘Championship Sunday’ as one of the final two or three teams. Their opponent will be based upon the outcome of Saturday night’s Sheridan-Cheyenne game. Gillette will play at noon on Sunday.

Mason Powell hit two home runs, which included a grand slam and drove in six runs to lead the Roughriders in a comeback victory.

Casper jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first. Cooper Hack had a two-run single, and then the Oilers scored another run on an RBI-fielder’s choice by Will Clair.

Gillette (52-14) scored 14 of the next 15 runs in the game.

A grand slam by Kaden Race highlighted a five-run second inning and gave the Roughriders the lead for good. Brody Richardson followed three batters later with an RBI-single for a 5-3 lead.

Clair smacked a solo home run to right-centerfield in the fourth inning for Casper.

Gillette answered back with five more runs in the bottom of the fourth. Powell hit a two-run shot to center field. Cole Swisher and Tanner Richards added RBI-singles, which stretched the lead to 10-4.

Neither team scored in the fifth. Then, Powell smashed a 1-2 pitch to center field that ended the game.

Bode Rivenes came on in relief and struck out 13 over 5.2 innings pitched. He allowed one run on three hits and issued two walks.

Powell racked up six RBI’s on his two hits. Richardson and Richards had two hits apiece.

Casper (12-42) was led by Clair with two hits and two RBI’s. The Oilers used five different pitchers over the 5.1 innings.