CLASS 2A BASEBALL REPORT – TUESDAY by Kerry Sherman

CLASS 2A BASEBALL REPORT – TUESDAY

BY: KERRY SHERMAN

The regular season in Class 2A ends today, and there is still a lot at stake. The schedule is littered with match-ups that will have huge impacts on the regional bracket that is released tomorrow by CHSAA, with hosting positions still up for grabs, as well as spots at the opposite end of things. All rankings are from the Tuesday morning release of the CHSAA Selection and Seeding Index.

#3 Las Animas @ #31 Crowley County (DH)

The third seed appears to be the ceiling for Las Animas, but the Trojans are being pushed hard by a couple of challengers. Las Animas had its 16-game winning streak snapped last Wednesday when #19 Rye took game two of their doubleheader, 5-4. TJ Ortiz had two RBI, but was also saddled with the loss in relief. Crowley County is one of three teams fighting for the final two spots in the bracket and the Chargers ride a bit of momentum into what could be a win or go home day. They’ve won two straight since going through an eight-game slide. Ben Cuckow tripled twice in the 17-2 win over Calhan that broke the losing streak.

#33 Sedgwick County @ #4 Holyoke (DH)

One of the other teams trying to nail down a spot on the bottom of the bracket is Sedgwick County, who rides a five-game losing streak into the doubleheader with Holyoke. The Cougars were swept by #14 Wiggins on Saturday, 9-2 and 12-2. Sedgwick County was held to seven total hits in the two losses, only one in the opener. Holyoke trails Las Animas by a razor-thin margin for the 3 seed and the Dragons are also entering the contest with their last outings coming against Wiggins. They split a DH last Tuesday, losing the first 10-6, and then getting a 10-0 shutout in game two.

#15 Yuma @ #25 Byers (DH)

Yuma is currently looking at being a #2 seed in a regional pod, but that position is tenuous. The Outlaws were stung by #6 Burlington last Saturday, losing both games of a doubleheader 4-3 in walk-off fashion. Reyli Trejo doubled twice in the nightcap, after giving the Outlaws a strong six innings of work on the mound in the opener. Those losses pushed Yuma’s losing streak to six straight. Byers is currently a #3 seed in a regional pod, but the Bulldogs could improve that position with a split or better. Alan Brewer and Chas Butterfield had three RBI apiece in a 12-3 win over #38 Clear Creek, sending the Bulldogs into the final day on a two-game winning run.

#34 Bishop Machebeuf @ #16 St. Mary’s (DH)

It appears as if the only hope the Buffaloes have of making the postseason is for Crowley County and Sedgwick County to both get swept today, while they themselves pull off a pair of upsets. Bishop Machebeuf rode a three-run fourth to a 4-1 victory over 3A #51 DSST: Montview last Friday, with Miles Edgar and John Menke each driving in a pair of runs in the contest. For the Pirates, a pair of wins most likely keeps them from traveling to #1 Limon for the opening round of regionals this weekend. They swept #24 Ellicott last Saturday, 10-0 and 11-1. Ryan Strub tossed a three-hit shutout with 11 strikeouts in game one. He had three hits of his own in game two.

#7 Buena Vista @ #9 Monte Vista

Buena Vista may have locked up a regional hosting spot with yesterday’s doubleheader sweep of #27 Colorado Springs Christian School, as the Demons pulled .045 ahead of Monte Vista in the Selection and Seeding Index. Still, no lead feels safe until the final data is entered. Hudson Wingo went 3-4 with three doubles and four RBI in a 12-2 win to open the DH yesterday, and Julian Lopez-Olsen had four RBI in the 16-2 nightcap victory. Not only does Monte Vista need a victory to have a shot at hosting a region, but the Pirates, winners of 11 straight, are trying to hold off #10 Dayspring Christian. The Pirates lead that race by just .003 over DCA.

#8 Fowler @ #19 Rye

The Grizzlies enter the day occupying the final regional hosting position, and the teams on either side of them play each other. A sweep would seemingly lock up the right to host this weekend, and a split might even be enough, but nobody wants to leave their fate up to computers. Fowler bounced back from a tight loss against #5 Peyton to sweep #13 Swink last Friday, 9-8 in eight innings and 9-4 in game two. Joe Salvo homered and drove in three runs in the first contest, and Isaiah Montoya had four RBI in game two. Rye built upon its win over Las Animas last week and swept #35 Rocky Ford, 13-1 and 12-4. Branson Burbidge allowed one run on three hits in the initial victory, and Brandon Benz struck out 11 in six innings to collect the game two victory.

#12 Lyons @ #2 Denver Christian

The Mile High championship is on the line and a win would definitely help the Lions in their bid to climb the final rankings. To get that win, Lyons will have to snap a two-game slide in the series, as Denver Christian won twice in less than a week’s time last season. Lyons was flirting with a hosting position until losing consecutive games to 3A #22 Valley and #22 Estes Park early last week. They got an important 10-2 win over 3A #33 Strasburg last Saturday, with Jake LaCrosse twirling a complete game four-hitter. The Thunder rides a 14-game winning streak into the match-up, having blasted Clear Creek 22-0 last Saturday. Asher Hawes and Mason Reilly each had a home run in that win, and Reilly drove home five runs.