Casper Oilers win opening game at American Legion AA state tournament

The Oilers (32-22) also took advantage of five errors by the Giants en route to a 12-2 victory. Hunter Hauck drove in the final run with a two-out single in the bottom of the sixth inning.

Center fielder Eric Whitley went 3-for-4 and drove in two runs to lead the Casper offense. Kylan DePoorter had a two-run single in the fourth and Jack Nicholls and Kole Pexton also had RBIs for the Oilers.

On the mound, starting pitcher Trig Berens struck out two and gave up no hits in 3.1 innings of work. Relievers E Woods and G Davis also held the Giants (17-45) hitless.

The Oilers play Gillette on Tuesday at 7 p.m. The Riders defeated the Cheyenne Hawks 9-2.

In the other winners’ bracket on Tuesday, the reigning state champion Cheyenne Sixers take on the Sheridan Troopers.