Several top 10 teams stepped on the baseball diamond for the first time on Tuesday and many picked up solid wins but others were knocked off by quality opponents. Let’s recap.
CLASS 1A
#5 Flatirons Academy scored a hard fought 4-1 win over Elbert as freshman Parker Wilson struck out ten batters in the win. He also walked seven but managed to work out of several jams. On offense, the Bison created just two hits but Carter Edwards banged out a double and drove in two key runs.
#7 Dove Creek opened with 3A Montezuma Cortez and were outscored 19-9. The pitching staff, with many members playing in the state basketball tournament over the weekend, allowed 14 earned runs in the loss. Offensively, the Bulldogs collected two hits apiece from Ryan Jarmon and Gage Buffington.
CLASS 2A
#9 Trinidad fell to 3A La Junta 5-2 in their season opener. Jeremiah Martinez had two hits and scored twice while Steven Salas added drove in two.
CLASS 3A
#2 University was impressive in their 11-0 win over #5 Faith Christian. Riggs Towle worked all five innings and finished with a no-hitter. He struck out six and walked two. Greg Garza provided two doubles and four runs batted in. River Jackson was also sharp at the plate; finishing the day with three hits, two runs scored and two driven in.
#8 Colorado Academy also had a good offensive day in their 17-1 blowout of DSST-Montview. Freshman Jordan Relter led the Mustangs with three hits, three runs and five runs batted in. THe Mustangs scored eight in the first inning and added five more in the third.
#3 Lutheran lost their opener to 5A Cherokee Trail 8-5. The Lions trailed 6-0 but then plated five runs in the top of the fifth to make it close. They allowed two in the bottom half of the seventh. Luke Bylers had three hits and three RBI for the Lions. Brett Barber had three hits and four different Warriors knocked in a run.
CLASS 4A
Top ranked Ponderosa is in Arizona for the week facing some of the top teams in the entire country. They fell twice on Tuesday; dropping matchups with Brophy Prep AZ and Cactus Shadows AZ. The Mustangs have more action in that state today.
The other two ranked teams on the diamond Tuesday also fell short as Thompson Valley stunned #2 Holy Family 6-2 and Rampart slammed #7 Lewis Palmer 18-2. Antonio Melendez tossed a complete game two hitter and struck out 11 to lead Thompson Valley. Beau Heaton added two doubles and drove in three at the plate. Rampart scored eight runs in the first, three in the second and four in the third. Roman Valdez had three RBI’s: Hayden Benoit and Josiah Mehl each collected three hits.
CLASS 5A
#4 Chatfield got a huge effort from Mason Lowe as the Chargers won their season opener against Prairie View 7-2. Lowe homered twice and drove in three runs. Dylan Novotny added two RBI’s. Those efforts allowed for a stress free day on the mound as Parker Murro and Chase Naegle combined on the seven inning win. They allowed two runs and combined to strike out ten.
Tucker Moore compiled a seven inning five hitter in leading #7 Douglas County over Columbine 3-0. Luke Emerson and Hayden Osborn both tallied two hits and an RBI.
#1 Mountain Vista swept two games against out of state competition and their offense was in full gear in both. The Golden Eagles beat Stillwater OK 11-10 and then cruised by Greenway AZ 22-0.
