CLASS 1A BASEBALL REPORT – FINAL FOUR
BY: KERRY SHERMAN
The final four teams standing in the Class 1A field all have experience playing in the semifinals or championships, setting the stage for a fun day at All-Star Park in Lakewood on Thursday. This group includes each of the last two champions, Merino (2024) and Akron (2025).
#1 FLATIRONS ACADEMY (17-3) VS #5 NUCLA (13-9) 10AM
Flatirons Academy has been the epitome of “close but no cigar”, as the Bison have played in three of the last five title games, going 0-3 in those contests. They were runner-up to Holly in 2021, to Haxtun in 2023, and Akron last year.
The Bison spent most of the season ranked #1 in the Selection and Seeding Index, and the champs of District 3 were the top seed for the postseason bracket. After getting a 6-0 shutout of #16 Kiowa in last Saturday’s regional semifinal, Flatirons Academy punched its ticket into the Final Four with a 12-2 run rule victory over #8 Eads.
Caleb Doughty threw a complete game no-hitter in the win over Kiowa, as the junior recorded 12 strikeouts and just one walk. It marked the second time this season that he had at least 11 punch-outs. Symon Deichert and Everson Nelson provided plenty of run support, with both driving in two runs.
Mateo Pope got the win in the regional final against Eads, allowing two earned runs on six hits in five innings. Pope struck out eight and did not issue any walks. Pope helped his own cause by hitting a home run and driving in three. Braxton Kelley added two RBI, three runs, and three stolen bases, while Dillon Sauer collected two RBI.
Just two weeks ago, Nucla found itself sitting 18th in the Selection and Seeding Index with a .500 record. The Mustangs went on to win the title in District 1, beating Sierra Grande and Dove Creek, and earned the automatic berth into the regional bracket. They moved up to the #16 spot, but as the lowest seeded district champion, they went into the bracket as the #5 seed.
As a program that has put together a number of late-season runs, and made several appearances in the semifinals, Nucla again did “Nucla things”, winning Region 4, beating #12 Prairie 10-9 in a wild semi, and then coming from behind to top #13 Peetz in an even crazier championship game.
The Mustangs trailed their fellow Mustangs from Prairie 9-6 through three, but got one run back in the fourth, and then took the lead for good with three in the sixth. Jackson McCabe hit his first home run of the year, and Cole Bray drove in two runs. Seven errors by the defense cost the team seven unearned runs.
In the regional final against Peetz, Nucla trailed 5-1 after two innings, but the Mustangs tied it with three in the fourth. They took a big lead with five in the fifth, only to see Peetz tie it with five in the top of the sixth. Nucla broke the tie with three in its half of the frame, and won 13-10. It was the fourth straight game in which the Mustangs scored at least 10 runs.
Bray and Brycen Rummel hit a home run apiece, and each had four RBI. For Bray, it was his second of the season, while Rummel tagged his first.
The Bison and Mustangs have played five other times in the postseason, with Flatirons Academy winning three. The Bison took a 9-0 win in 2023, after Nucla had taken a 17-2 victory the previous year.
#6 MERINO (15-8) VS #7 AKRON (15-6) 12:30PM
Merino entered the regional bracket as the runner-up in District 5, having lost the district title game to #3 Haxtun 9-3. It was the second loss of the season for the Rams against Haxtun in three tries. They would get a measure of revenge in regionals, but it would take a number of twists and turns to happen.
The Rams, who won the crown two years ago, opened Region 3 play with an 8-2 win over #11 Wiley, as they broke a 1-1 tie with two in the second and three in the third. Kaleb Knutson allowed two unearned runs in six innings, and struck out eight without any walks. Zavier Trenkle hit a solo shot, hist first of the season, and was one of three Rams to score twice, along with Tyler Everhart and Joel Harper.
Merino got the match-up with Haxtun in the regional final, but only after the Bulldogs had a 9-7 loss to #14 Evangel Christian Academy in the semifinal overturned due to a pitch count violation by the Eagles. That officially went down as a forfeit win for the Fightin’ Bulldogs.
The Rams jumped out to a 5-0 lead just half an inning into the game, only to have Haxtun respond with three in its half of the frame. Merino’s attack kept clicking, as the Rams scored three in the second and three in the third, giving them an 11-3 advantage. Haxtun came back with four in the third and four more in the fourth to tie it.
The Fightin’ Bulldogs took their first lead of the game with three in the fifth, which Merino covered in the top of the sixth. The game would go extra innings, and the teams would have to deal with a lightning delay, but that did little to slow them down. Merino came out with four in the top of the eighth, and Haxtun tried to rally, getting two in the bottom of the inning before the comeback was thwarted.
Trenkle homered again, as did Zachary Mackintosh, and they had four RBI apiece. Trenkle scored four runs, while Jordan Rose and Isaac Poe each crossed the plate three times.
Akron had to trek to Lamar for Region 2 play, where the Rams opened against #10 Stratton in the semifinals. The Rams cranked up the offense early, plating five runs in the bottom of the first. Stratton got a single tally in the second, but Akron roared back with an eight-spot in the same inning. The Eagles got one more in the third, but that would be it. Akron tacked on two in the fourth and claimed the run rule victory 15-2 in five.
Zach Bowin had a big day at the plate, hitting a double and collecting four RBI. Jakzon Livesay and Caleb Hansen had three RBI apiece, and Livesay scored three runs. Livesay and Mason Porteus combined on the one-hitter.
The Rams faced the regional host, #2 McClave, in the final, and they gained an early 2-0 advantage before the Cardinals had come to bat. McClave tied it in the third, and the teams remained knotted at 2-all until the fifth, when Akron broke through with two to go up 4-2. McClave made it a one-run game heading to the sixth, but the Rams tacked on two in that frame and went on to take a 6-3 victory. That sent the Rams to the Final Four for the fourth straight year.
Porteus had two of the team’s eight hits, smacking a double and a triple. Hansen led the Rams with two RBI, while Jax Kusel scored twice and stole two bags. Porteus also earned the win by allowing an unearned run on one hit in three innings.
There’s no lack of familiarity between the two squads of Rams, as this will be their third meeting this season. Akron claimed a 6-5 victory in the regular season, while Merino bumped them from the District 5 semifinals with a 13-2 decision. For the seniors of both teams, it will be the 12th times they’ve squared off in their careers. Akron has won six of the previous 11, but Merino got a 10-9 victory in 2024 to stake its claim to the state title.
Looking at potential championship game pairings, Akron and Flatirons Academy met in the first game of the season for the Rams. The Bison won 9-3. Akron beat the Bison 8-7 in last year’s title game. Flatirons had won a regular season meeting that year, 6-1. The Rams also own a 12-7 semifinal victory from 2024.
Merino and Nucla have met twice in the postseason, with Merino taking an 18-0 win in 2022, and the Rams adding a 10-7 victory in 2024.
Flatiron Academy beat Merino 10-5 in last year’s semifinal, sending the Bison to the finals.
Akron and Nucla have not played in the MaxPreps era.
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