Knights aim for the top

After winning 13 of their last 14 games, the Green River Knights are looking to topple the first-ranked Riverton Raiders in double-header baseball action Thursday.

The games are scheduled to start at 5 and 7 p.m., respectively at the Stratton Myers Park ball field.

When talking about the Knights' successes, head coach Benjamin Lail credits the team's hard work, as well as his coaching staff and the four senior leaders on the team. Those leaders are Joe Schultz, Dallan Serrano, Ramsay Taliaferro and Korbin Serrano.

"It's 100 percent all of us," Lail said.

Speaking specifically about Taliaferro and Schultz, Lail said the two have stepped up their contributions to the team in their leadership roles, crediting the two signing to play baseball at the college level as a factor in the two players' efforts.

"It comes from the boys realizing they can compete at the next level," Lail said.

The Knights are ranked second and are tied with the Cody Cubs in their division, according to Lail.

He said Riverton is a strong team, but expects the Knights to come away with the important wins as long as his players can approach the game with the right mentality.

"We just got to go out there and play Knights baseball," Lail said.

The team has come a long way during the season, he said. The coach, in his first year with the team, said he walked on with a clean slate by not knowing the players beforehand. He said he has the best assistant coaches he could ask for and together they instilled a desire to work hard amongst the team.

"It's easy now," Lail said. "Everyone is buying into the system. We're a big family here."

The coaching staff has shifted players to different positions and is working with a strong group of younger athletes, which he said will benefit the Knights in years to come.

He said he recently had Domenick Kunkle, who is listed as on the team's American Legion roster as a left fielder, pitch during a previous game and was impressed with Kunkle's efforts. He said watching the younger players overcome the fear of the unknown has made the team an exciting group to watch.

Following Riverton's visit to Green River, the Knights will play the Cody Cubs July 7 in another double header at home. The team will then travel to Hayden, Colo., for competition July 14.

 

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