CLASS 2A BASEBALL WEEKLY PREVIEW by Kerry Sherman

CLASS 2A BASEBALL WEEKLY PREVIEW

BY: KERRY SHERMAN

The baseball season officially got underway almost two weeks ago for several teams in Class 2A, but for many others, this week will mark their first action of the new year. All rankings are according to the most recent CHSAANow.com coaches poll.

TUESDAY

Limon (#2) got its season off to a good start by taking two out of three last weekend at the Fowler/Crowley County tournament. The Badgers dropped their opener to #3 Fowler 10-6, as the Grizzlies scored five runs in their final two innings. Trey Smith took the loss after allowing eight runs (four earned) on seven hits in five innings. He struck out 11 and walked two.

The Badgers bounced back to beat #10 Dayspring Christian 12-6, with Lance Beedy (four) and Keon Bandy (three) combining to drive in seven runs. Limon wrapped things up with a 10-3 win over 1A #2 Holly. Bandy went the distance, striking out 11 and walking one. Only one of the three runs he allowed was earned.

Limon visits Wiggins on Tuesday in a non-league clash, before competing in the Denver Christian tournament this weekend. The Badgers will face #5 Buena Vista, 1A #3 Simla, and #6 Denver Christian in that tournament. Wiggins went 16-10 last year, and lost 16-1 to Limon to end the year.

Buena Vista gears up for that tournament by stepping up to play 3A Gunnison on Tuesday. It’s the opener for the Demons, who went 15-11 last season. They lost six regulars out of their lineup to graduation, but bring back Caleb Camp who went 7-0 with an ERA just over 4.00 last season. He struck out 67 in 56.2 innings. Gunnison is off to a 1-3 start.

The Tuesday slate also includes a doubleheader between a pair of ranked squads that are looking to make an early statement. Seventh-ranked St. Mary’s (0-1) hosts #8 Swink (1-1) in a pair of non-league contests. The Pirates dropped an 8-3 decision to #4 Rye last Tuesday, as their offense was held to six singles in the contest.

Swink split a twin bill with Centauri last Friday, dropping the opener 10-4 and winning the nightcap 11-4. The Lions gave up seven runs in the top of the fourth in game one, and they got a six-run bottom of the third in game two. Freshman Noah Pearson drove in four in the win.

WEDNESDAY

Rangely is just outside the top-10 in this week’s rankings, but the Panthers are smarting after being swept by #1 Peyton last Saturday. Rangely dropped the season-opening series by scores of 15-2 and 20-2. The Panthers step up two classes on Wednesday to host 4A Steamboat Springs in doubleheader action. Kevin Wren and Marcos Quintana provided some highlights last weekend, as the duo combined to go 7-for-9 at the plate.

THURSDAY

Front Range Christian (1-0) won its opener 12-2 over 1A Longmont Christian back on March 10^th, with Brooks O’Keefe going 4-4 at the dish. He drilled a pair of doubles and a triple, coming up just a home run shy of the cycle. The Falcons hosted 1A #7 Evangelical Christian on Tuesday and welcome in Colorado Springs Christian on Thursday. CSCS (1-1) beat Dolores Huerta Prep 23-9 and fell to 1A Simla 12-2.

FRIDAY

For top-ranked Peyton (3-0), the two lopsided wins over Rangely last week were just part of an early scoring surge. The Panthers also took down Simla 9-3 to open the season, and they’ve outscored their opponents 44-7 in their three games. Owen Compton (six) and Logan Nickell (five) have already combined for 11 runs driven in.

Las Animas (1-0) will try to slow the Panthers’ attack in the opener of the Tojans’ home tournament. The Trojans rolled to a 25-10 win over Center last Wednesday, with Orion Martinez, Jackson O’Connor, Brandon Gallegos, and Logan Servaes each driving in three runs. Centauri,Trinidad, Calhan, Ellicott, Center, and Swink are also in the tournament.

SATURDAY

Outside of tournament play, some of Saturday’s big match-ups have Fowler visiting St. Mary’s for a doubleheader between ranked teams, and three clashes in the LPAA.

Fowler was impressive in rolling to a 3-0 mark in the tournament the Grizzlies co-hosted with Crowley County last weekend. Not only did they take the 10-6 win over Limon, but they backed that up with victories over #10 Dayspring Christian (16-2) and Monte Vista (13-3). Harrison Proctor, Weston Johnson, Aiden Smith, Gage Gottbehuet, and Jakob Manchego all drove in at least four runs over the weekend. Manchego pushed six across the dish.

After opening its defense of last year’s 1A state title on Thursday against Peetz, top-ranked Merino visits Sedgwick County for two. It’s the beginning of a tough stretch for Sedgwick County, who also has two next Tuesday against another top-five team in 1A, Haxtun. The Cougars only won two games last year.

Before Haxtun gets to that doubleheader next week, the Fightin’ Bulldogs tangle with Holyoke (2-0)  on Saturday. The Dragons dominated Byers 22-1 and 18-3 last Saturday. Wyatt Sprague went 6-7 with three doubles, five RBI, and six runs in that sweep. For good measure, he picked up the win in one of the games, giving up one unearned run in three innings.