CLASS 1A BASEBALL REPORT
BY: KERRY SHERMAN
There are just two weeks left in the regular season for 1A, and the top-10 teams in the CHSAA Selection and Seeding Index are looking to set themselves up with the best possible path to the postseason. As of Tuesday afternoon, there had been a bit of juggling in the last week.
#1 FLATIRONS ACADEMY (10-1)
The Bison suffered their first loss of the season last Thursday, as they fell to 2A #14 Lyons by a 4-3 count. Flatirons Academy held a 3-2 lead going to the bottom of the seventh, but Lyons rallied to earn the walk-off with two outs. The Bison got back on track with a big 11-5 road win at #2 Haxtun on Saturday. They got two RBI apiece from Dillon Sauer, Caleb Doughty, Preston Miller, Mateo Pope, and Braxton Kelley in that win. Flatirons Academy hosts 2A #3 Dayspring Christian on Tuesday, Denver Academy on Thursday, and #12 Simla on Saturday.
#2 HAXTUN (9-3)
The 11-5 loss to Flatirons Academy was the second in three games for the Fightin’ Bulldogs who bounced back to sweep 2A Sedgwick County on Monday, 20-2 and 21-4. Haxtun scored in all but one frame in the opener, including a nine-run seventh inning. Jaxon Schram had three hits, including a double and a triple, and drove in four runs. Carter Lock scored four runs. The Fightin’ Bulldogs led game two 7-6 going to the top of the fifth, and then plated 14 runs. Colin Cone had four hits and drove in five. Haxtun travels to #6 Akron for two on Saturday.
#3 MCCLAVE (11-0)
McClave swept a pair of doubleheaders last week, beating #20 Cheyenne Wells 5-0 and 5-1, and then taking two over #18 Holly by scores of 5-2 and 17-2. Kielan Mallard worked the first game in both, recording 19 total strikeouts, giving him 158 in his career. That made him the all-time leader in program history. The two runs scored by Holly were the first earned ones he’s allowed all season. The Cardinals have three big road tests this week, as they travel to #7 Otis on Tuesday, and will be at #8 Stratton for two on Saturday.
#4 EADS (8-1)
After sweeping a pair from #9 Wiley (4-1, and 4-3) last Tuesday, Eads picked up another top-10 victory on Saturday. The Eagles took a hard-fought 2-1 win over #10 Evangel Christian, with Adyn Hough earning the decision. Hough gave up one earned run on two hits in five innings. He struck out seven and did not walk anyone. Eads also faced 3A Harrison on Saturday and gave up a 3-2 lead in the fifth, as the Panthers scored six to take the 8-3 victory. The Eagles go to Stratton on Tuesday for one, and will host #24 Granada for two on Friday.
#5 MERINO (7-5)
The Rams opened last week with a sweep of 2A Holyoke, 11-0 and 19-1, on Tuesday, but had their three-game winning streak snapped by Otis on Saturday, 12-5. Zavier Trenkle tossed a one-hitter in the opening game against Holyoke. Isaac Poe homered in game two, and Tyler Everhart set a new career-high with four RBI. The Rams have a busy stretch this week, starting with a home game on Tuesday against 2A #24 Highland. They clash with Akron on the road on Wednesday, and go to #14 Caliche for two on Saturday.
#6 AKRON (7-3)
Akron had an up-and-down week, going 2-2 last week. The Rams started off by losing to 2A #11 Wray 6-4 on a walk-off homer by the Eagles in the seventh. Akron bounced back to beat 2A #20 Wiggins 10-1 on Thursday, and then split two with Caliche, 12-8 and 11-1, on Friday. Clay Axtell homered in both games against Caliche. They were his first two bombs of the season. The Rams will host Merino on Wednesday, and play two at Haxtun on Saturday.
#7 OTIS (10-4)
The Bulldogs picked up three wins last week, beating Weldon Valley 15-0 on Tuesday, #13 Kiowa 12-1 on Thursday, and then getting the 12-5 win over Merino on Saturday. Mitchell Stivers and Gavin Price had a home run apiece against Weldon Valley, and Price hit another against Kiowa. Emiliano Varela racked up four hits and four RBI against Merino. Otis hosts McClave on Tuesday, and next Monday, the Bulldogs travel to Stratton.
#8 STRATTON (8-2)
Stratton’s schedule kept the Eagles hopping last week, with a pair of doubleheaders surrounding a single game at Limon. The Eagles swept Holly 14-2 and 21-6 on Tuesday, with Grady Steerman going the distance in game one. He allowed one earned run in the complete game. Stratton erupted for 14 in the first inning of game two, and seven different players drove in two runs. One bad inning on Thursday doomed the Eagles in a 9-2 loss at 2A #4 Limon, as the Badgers plated eight runs in the fourth. Stratton was back on the road for two at Cheyenne Wells and came away with wins of 7-6 and 8-6. It’s another wild stretch for the Eagles, who host Eads on Tuesday, go to 2A #15 Byers on Thursday, host McClave for two on Saturday, and host Otis next Monday.
#9 WILEY (8-8-1)
The Panthers saw their losing streak reach four with the doubleheader loss to Eads last Tuesday. Trate Weimer drove in the only run for Wiley in the 4-1 game one loss, and Grant Mauch punched out a dozen Eagles. The Panthers were held to two hits in game two. Erik Gonzales homered in a 7-3 victory over Baca County on Friday. Wiley is nearly done with its regular season schedule, with only two games left. The Panthers host Cheyenne Wells on Tuesday, and will be at home next Monday to face Holly.
#10 EVANGEL CHRISTIAN ACADEMY (5-4)
Last week was a tough one for Evangel Christian Academy, as the Eagles went 0-3. They opened the week with a 12-0 loss to 2A #12 Front Range Christian on Tuesday. The Eagles were held to three hits. They were again limited to three hits in the 2-1 loss to Eads on Saturday, and Anderson Schultz was the tough-luck loser, allowing two earned runs in the bottom of the second. He only gave up two hits to Eads, and struck out six. The offense sputtered again in the contest with Harrison, who took a 7-1 victory. ECA had five hits, all singles. The Eagles host #16 Rocky Mountain Lutheran on Thursday, and will go to Kiowa on Saturday.
MileHigh Prep Report 