CLASS 2A BASEBALL MIDWEEK REPORT – APRIL 30-MAY 2ND
BY: KERRY SHERMAN
The final two weeks of the Class 2A regular season have started and the race to host regionals is really heating up. A number of top-15 clashes are on tap in the early portion of the week, and even more will take place down the stretch. All rankings are from the midday Tuesday release of the CHSAA Selection and Seeding Index.
TUESDAY
#3 Denver Christian @ 3A #10 Colorado Academy
Denver Christian picked up its eighth straight win last Thursday, taking a 4-2 victory over 1A #4 Flatirons Academy. Nate Bovasso drove in two of the runs to support Brayden Epperhart, who allowed two earned runs in 6.1 innings. Epperhart gave up five hits, walked one, and struck out five. Mason Reilly got the final two outs to earn the save. Colorado Academy has won 10 in a row since starting the season 1-2. The Mustangs took a home-and-home series from Peak to Peak last week, winning 9-2 at home and 1-0 on the road. Charlie Rakowski and Fraser Smith combined on a two-hit shutout on Thursday, with Rakowski working 6.1 innings and Smith getting the last two outs for the save.
#9 Yuma @ #21 Wiggins (DH)
Yuma is in the hunt to host a regional, but the Outlaws have dropped three of four since sitting in the top-three just two weeks ago. They got back on track with a 4-1 win over #28 Wray last Saturday. Silas Baucke hit his second homer of the season and drove in two, backing Reyli Trejo, who gave up one unearned run in 6.2 innings. Angel Escobar struck out the final hitter to collect the save. Wiggins is 5-5 in its last 10 games, and the Tigers enter the doubleheader off a 12-1 loss to #14 Dayspring Christian last Monday. Jack Epple scored the lone run for the Tigers in that defeat.
#19 Front Range Christian @ #11 Lyons
It’s a fight in the Mile High, with the visiting Falcons riding a three-game winning streak. They’ve scored 42 runs in that span, including eking out a 12-11 win over Bishop Machebeuf last Tuesday. Harrison Esper and Wesley Marshall each had four hits in that victory, and Nate McInturff had 3 RBI. Lyons is one game ahead of Denver Christian in the win column for the lead in the conference, but the Lions come in having dropped a 9-3 decision to 3A #19 Wellington last Thursday. They were held to four singles in the contest and committed four errors. Those errors led to seven of the runs being unearned.
#13 Monte Vista @ #23 Rye
The Pirates’ pursuit of a potential regional hosting spot has seen them reel off seven straight wins. They swept Del Norte 2-0 and 19-5 last Saturday. Kaden Mellott tossed a complete game one-hitter in the opener, and also drove in one of the runs. Azariah Hurtado and Judah Howe had 4 RBI apiece in the nightcap. Rye has dropped four straight, including a 15-2 defeat at #5 Buena Vista last Tuesday. The Thunderbolts were held to three hits, all singles.
WEDNESDAY
#10 Dawson School @ 3A #19 Wellington
Dawson School took a four-game winning streak into Tuesday’s Mile High contest against Bishop Machebeuf, and the Mustangs had allowed just one run in those four games. Darren Sebek and Declan Noonan combined to one-hit Clear Creek on Monday, as the Mustangs won 15-0. Milo Richtel went 3-4 with two triples and 3 RBI. Tanner McLean and Teagan Greiman had two RBI apiece for Wellington in the win against Lyons, and McLean swiped three bags. Parker Jimenez also had three stolen bases.
THURSDAY
#19 Front Range Christian @ #10 Dawson School
Front Range Christian takes on another team that is ahead of it in the Mile High standings, in what is a challenging week for the Falcons. Dawson School has won the last four meetings in the series and six of the last seven. Last year, the Mustangs took a 12-3 win on the road, with Dawson Kusel going the distance on the hill for the victory.
#17 Meeker @ #26 Rangely
Meeker had its seven-game winning streak snapped last Tuesday when 4A #38 Glenwood Springs took game two of their doubleheader by a 12-7 count. Spencer Gates drove in four runs for the Cowboys, after plating two in their 9-4 opening game victory. Rangely was unbeaten in seven straight prior to dropping the nightcap of a doubleheader to 1A #21 Nucla last Friday. The Panthers won the opener 5-4, with Landon Carlson driving in a pair, backing Tristan Scott. Scott got the complete game victory, allowing four runs (two earned). Rangely dropped the second game 12-9, despite Dalton LeBleu’s 5 RBI effort.
MileHigh Prep Report 