Cowboys drop twin bill at Vernal

MEEKER — The Meeker Cowboy baseball team opened their season last Saturday in Vernal. However, the Cowboys were on the short end of the wins by scores of 7-6 and 13-2.
Junior Tyler Matrisciano started the first game for the ‘Pokes. Matrisciano pitched three innings and struck out five Vernal batters before giving way to sophomore Colton Brown who closed out the game. Austin Seely handled the catching duties for the Cowboys.
Meeker and Vernal battled in a 0-0 game until the fourth inning when Vernal pushed a run across the plate. Meeker tied the game up in the fifth inning with a run of their own. In the sixth inning Meeker scored five big runs on the strength of a three run home run by Matrisciano. Vernal erupted in their half of the sixth inning with six big runs.
Meeker wasn’t able to counter in the last inning as the final ended 7-6 for the Vernal team. Eleven Meeker batters struck out in the game compared to five for Vernal.
“The Vernal team was probably some of the toughest competition we will see all year‚“ said Cowboy head coach Joel Matrisciano, “Too bad we had to see them the first game of the year.”
In the second game Tyrel Gerloff and Seely took care of the pitching duties for the ‘Pokes while Nate Bradfield handled the catching. Meeker was only able to gather three hits in the second game, one by Matrisciano, one by Gerloff and one by Seely as the fell by a score of 13-2.
This Saturday, the Cowboys will host a non-league double header against the Grand Valley Cardinals at Irwin Field. Game time is scheduled to begin at 11 a.m.