The parking lot at Bill Wood Field, just beyond foul territory in left field, was filled with cars sporting license plates from states far away like New York, Pennsylvania and Massachusetts.

The cars belonged to the North Platte 80s players, who were packed and ready for a seven hour drive after their game on Saturday against the Trinidad Triggers.

That was the reason for the unorthodox start time of 9 a.m. for the 80s’ series finale against the Triggers.

It took a while for North Platte to wake up on offense on Saturday but once they did, they buried Trinidad, 7-1, to sweep the series.

“I’ll tell you, that’s the best feeling we’ve had this season with all the rain we’ve had,” 80s manager Todd Everleth said. “Coming back here after a short night of sleep and getting a sweep was just amazing. It was a close game all the way through. (Trinidad is) going to be a tough competitor this season. Sweeping’s fun but we’ve got a lot of work to do.”

Trinidad scored their only run of the game in the first inning on a double steal between Gleyder Abreu and Chris Viamonte.

The 80s (4-2) didn’t score until the fifth inning when Rico Riley hit a two-out double to center field.

In the seventh inning, Triggers starting pitcher Josue Rivera was relieved by Amilcar Arano and North Platte jumped all over Arano.

The 80s took the lead when Jake Boucher hit an infield single, making it onto the basepaths after first base was left uncovered. Riley drove in his second run of the game with a single into right. Coby Tweten followed suit with a ground ball in between first and second base. Aidan Diltz reached on an error by the shortstop Viamonte to make it 5-1.

“We knew the starting pitcher was getting us and we needed to get to the bullpen,” Everleth said. “Once we get to the bullpen, things will open up and sure enough, we did. It was a wonderful job on those guys’ parts. We played a little smallball and our big bats came through.”

North Platte added to the lead in the eighth with RBI singles by pinch hitter Luke Harris and Tweten.

In the top of the ninth, Corey Steward came in for 80s starter Benjamin Smith and retired the Triggers in order to finish them off.

In his start, Smith pitched eight innings, struck out four batters and scattered five hits.

“That kid’s a gamer, man,” Everleth said. “He had two hits at plate plus throwing about a hundred pitches and going eight innings. I thought about keeping him in (for the ninth) to get the Maddux but he already had the one run scored against him, so it didn’t matter. We don’t want to hurt his arm and we’re gonna need him the rest of the season. He just loves to do his job and he did it really well today.”

On Friday in the second game of the series, the 80s defeated the Triggers, 8-5.

Next, North Platte will hit the road for a three game series at the Kansas City-Iola Hormigas, starting on Sunday at 1 p.m. The Hormigas are 0-7 on the season but their losing streak has to end at some point. Everleth just hopes it isn’t against his team.

“They’re having a rough go of it but they’re still building their team and I’m not taking them lightly,” he said. “Derick (Dominguez is) a great coach and he’s going to bring his all.”

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