Class 1A Baseball State Bracket and Finals Prediction
#8 Nucla vs #7 Caliche @11:00am on May 17th at All Star Park
One team I predicted to be here, and the other is here to defend their crown. 1 game is all that is left to decide the Class 1A State Champion
#7 Caliche dominated their first two games of the State Bracket. Caliche beat Holly 10 to 1 and then rolled to another dominate victory 11 to 1. Caliche played one of the tougher schedules in 1A playing the 2A District 2 League Schedule. Caliche gets to the state championship with great pitching allowing just 2 runs in their 2 games. In game 1 against Holly, Senior Brayden Nichols pitched 7 innings giving up 1 run striking out 11 and only throwing 88 pitches in the game. Caliche best hitter in game #1 was Senior Brock Briscoe who went 3 for 4 at the plate, hitting 1 double, 1 triple and being walked once. In game #2 against Longmont Christian, Caliche pitched Senior Skyler Armstrong who pitched 5.2 inning gave up 1 run, 1 walk, and struck out 8. Brayden Nichols did come in the game and pitch .1 of an inning and Caliche ten ran Longmont Christian. Caliche best hitting in game #2 was Senior Brayden Nichols who batted 1.000 and went 2 of 2 from the plate, with 2 singles and 2 walks. Caliche was dominate in both games but will need solid pitching against a team that can score runs in bunches. I expect to see Senior Brayden Nichols pitch in the State Championship.
#8 Nucla did not completely dominate in their first two games but did enough to win the games. Nucla pulled an upset in game #1 beating #1 Cornerstone Christian 9 to 7 and then in game #2 beat Peetz 13 to 11. Nucla also played a very tough schedule playing in the District 3/5 2A league schedule. Nucla like I mentioned is your defending state champion from a year ago. In Game 1 against Cornerstone Christian, Nucla pitched started Junior Will Gabriel who pitched 5.1 innings giving up 7 runs, 4 walks, and striking out 7. He threw 109 pitches and was replaced by Freshman Tyler Wytullka who pitched 1.2 innings gave up just 2 hits struck out 4 and did not give up a run. Nucla best hitter in game #1 was Freshman Sammy Puderbaugh who batted 1.000, he went 2 of 2 from the plate with an RBI and 2 walks. In game #2 Nucla started Freshman Tyler Wytullka who pitched 3.1 inning game up 2 hits, 2 runs, 3 walks, and struck out 9. He was replaced by Senior Cord Colson who pitched 3.2 inning gave up 4 hits, 8 runs, 3 walks, and struck out 4. Nucla best hitting was Freshman Tyler Wytullka who batted 1.000 and went 2 of 2 from the plate scoring 4 times and getting walked 3 times. Nucla is very young with only 2 seniors on the team and this could be a team to watch out for next year. Nucla used their offense to score runs and will need to be able to score runs on a very good pitching staff. Nucla will need a great outing from Tyler Wytullka as I expect him to start against Caliche.
Like I said in the beginning I expected Caliche to be in the State Championship and I even said if Nucla gets hot they could also make a run to the finals as well. Nucla and Caliche both played 2A League schedules and played against top teams all year. I am giving the edge to Caliche due to their pitching and their ability to score runs as well. Nucla will score runs but I am not sure if Nucla pitching staff can hold Caliche down. I am going with Caliche over Nucla in a 10 to 4 game. Good Luck to both teams in the state championship.
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