CLASS 2A BASEBALL REPORT – REGIONALS
BY: KERRY SHERMAN
Thirty-two teams in Class 2A enter the weekend with hopes of making the state field. By the end of the day on Saturday, only eight will have punched their tickets to Pueblo. The top eight seeds will host a region. The games are listed in bracket order.
REGION ONE (HOSTED BY FORGE CHRISTIAN)
#1 FORGE CHRISTIAN (21-2) VS #32 PLATTE CANYON (12-8)
Forge Christian enters regionals on a six-game winning streak, the most recent coming on Monday against Resurrection Christian, 11-1. The Fury led 9-0 after two innings, with a big eight-run second providing the separation. Ivan Murphy had a double and three RBI, and Owen Carlson swiped two bags in the win. Ben Harhager and Jake Stocker combined on the four-hitter.
Platte Canyon helped secure a spot in the regional bracket by winning four of its last five. The lone loss came in the finale of the regular season to #4 Estes Park, 13-1. The Huskies trailed 2-1 after one, but then gave up 11 runs over the next four, including four in the fifth, which led to the run rule loss. Braylon Spodyak, Jacob Haase, and Ethan Nylund had one hit apiece, with Spodyak’s going for two bases. Eight errors led to seven unearned runs.
These two teams did not meet in the regular season.
#16 SKYVIEW ACADEMY (13-5) VS #17 RYE (13-10)
SkyView Academy won four of its last five games, including an 8-7 victory over 1A state champion Flatirons Academy. The lone loss in the closing stretch came against Estes Park, 7-1. The Hawks bounced back from that defeat to win their last two, the final one coming 11-0 over Denver Academy on Tuesday. Max Veldhuizen tripled and homered, and drove in three in that victory. Asa Acevedo stole three bases. Three pitchers combined to allow one hit.
The Thunderbolts won their final six games of the regular season, including a 6-5 decision over #8 Las Animas on Tuesday. Rye walked it off with two in the bottom of the seventh. Grant Clennin and Jackson Bjorum had two RBI apiece in the victory. Max Rocha and Branson Burbidge tallied 14 combined strikeouts on the mound.
This will be the first meeting of the year between the two teams.
The only potential rematch in the regional final is SkyView Academy and Platte Canyon. They met in the first week of the season, with the Hawks grabbing a 14-0 win. Tucker Corazzari allowed two hits and struck out 11 in the complete game shutout.
REGION EIGHT (HOSTED BY LAS ANIMAS)
#8 LAS ANIMAS (17-6) VS #25 HIGHLAND (9-14)
The Trojans finished the regular season with a pair of losses, as they fell 5-1 to #12 Fowler in the second game of a doubleheader last Saturday, and then they dropped the 6-5 contest to Rye on Tuesday. Las Animas took a 5-4 lead with three in the top of the sixth at Rye, only to give up two in the bottom of the seventh for the walk-off loss. Braydon Ortiz smacked two doubles and drove in three runs for the Trojans. He has 16 two-baggers on the season, and 33 RBI on his 38 hits. He struck out eight in four innings on the bump.
Highland had a two-game winning streak snapped by 3A #20 Liberty Common, 9-1 last Saturday. The Huskies lost five of their last seven. Rowley McEachron doubled home the lone run in the loss that ended the regular season. Elijah Graham crossed the plate on that hit.
The Huskies and Trojans did not play in the regular season.
#9 PEYTON (16-5) VS #24 IGNACIO (13-10)
Peyton won its final two, sweeping Calhan 15-0 and 10-0 last Saturday, and the Panthers won 12 of their last 13 overall. Zayden Ebbert and Bryce Love had a home run and three RBI apiece in the opener against Calhan, and Love tossed a two-hit shutout with 11 Ks. Ebbert threw a five-hit shutout with seven strikeouts in game two.
The Bobcats won their final three contests of the regular season, two by forfeit over Trinidad. The only victory to come on the field was in the finale, 9-7 over Centauri. Both teams had seven run innings in that game. Gabe Archuletta had a triple and two RBI for Ignacio, and he stole two bases. Bobcat pitchers hit six batters in the win.
This will be the first meeting of the year between the two.
There’s a potential rematch in the regional final if Las Animas and Peyton both advance. The Trojans took a 7-2 victory in early April, Ortiz struck out 16 for Las Animas, and Josiah Avila stole three bases. Love had three thefts for the Panthers.
REGION FOUR (HOSTED BY ESTES PARK)
#4 ESTES PARK (17-5) VS #29 MEEKER (9-12-1)
Estes Park enters the regional round as one of the hottest teams in the classification, coming in on a six-game winning streak. The latest of those came on Tuesday at Platte Canyon, 13-1. Graham Stafford and Leo Balduzzi combined to limit the Huskies to just two hits in the contest. Balduzzi, Drake Kearney, and Isaac Hill had two hits apiece for the Bobcats.
Meeker swept a doubleheader from Moffat County on Monday, 7-2 and 15-4, helping secure its spot in the regional bracket. Said Rodriguez and Logan Selby stole two bases apiece in the opener. Augie Halstead had three hits, including a double, and three RBI in game two. Cade Mills doubled and tripled, while Jaxen Mills and Bryant Turner stole four bases each.
This is the first meeting of the year between Estes Park and Meeker.
#13 CROWLEY COUNTY (14-8) VS #20 FRONT RANGE CHRISTIAN (11-10)
The Chargers had won four straight before suffering a 13-2 loss to 3A #11 Sterling on Tuesday. Tritt Buhr doubled in both runs for Crowley County in the defeat. He had two of the team’s three hits. Krew Karney had the other one. Four errors caused eight of the runs allowed to be unearned.
Front Range Christian snapped a two-game skid with a 7-3 win over Englewood on Tuesday. The Falcons posted three-spots in the first and fourth. Noah Angel and Jake Dreiling had two RBI apiece, while Dreiling, Ben Todd, and Haedan Morton scored two runs apiece.
Crowley County and Front Range Christian did not play in the regular season.
Estes Park and Front Range Christian played a doubleheader during the season, with the Bobcats winning both ends. The Bobcats got three RBI from Caleb Sumner in an 11-1 win in the opener. Balduzzi homered and drove in three in the 9-8 nightcap. Kaemon Deza and Todd each had a pair of RBI for the Falcons in that loss.
REGION FIVE (HOSTED BY DENVER CHRISTIAN)
#5 DENVER CHRISTIAN (15-8) VS #28 DOLORES (10-11)
Denver Christian had won eight straight before closing the regular season by losing both ends of a home-and-home with 3A #9 Colorado Academy last Thursday and Friday. The Thunder was held to two hits in a 9-1 loss at home, with Camden Epperhart and Thjis VanderGriend each having a single. Nash Politte had both of their hits in the 5-1 defeat on the road.
Dolores won three of four prior to losing its finale 14-4 to #19 Cedaredge last Friday. Gus Vaughn had two hits and two RBI for the Bears, and Levi Hampton added two hits, including a double. Branson Lee scored twice.
This is the first meeting of the season between the Thunder and Bears.
#12 FOWLER (13-7) VS #21 WIGGINS (11-12)
Fowler won its last two games of the regular season, and the Grizzlies went 5-2 down the stretch. They split doubleheaders with Crowley County and Las Animas, before ending with a 19-1 romp over Mitchell. Joe Salvo had three hits in the finale, including a double, and drove in thee runs. Brock True scored three runs and was one of three Grizzlies with two stolen bases. Layton Sharon and Bryce Froman with the other two. Titus Ballard allowed an unearned run in the no-hitter.
Wiggins lost five of its last seven, including a tough 6-3 defeat against #6 Dayspring Christian on Monday. Isaac Flores had two hits and scored two runs for the Tigers, who also got two hits from Carston Johnson. Flores was also credited with three stolen bases.
Fowler and Wiggins did not play during the regular season.
There are no potential rematches in the regional final, as none of the four teams played anyone else in this bracket.
REGION TWO (HOSTED BY MONTE VISTA)
#2 MONTE VISTA (21-0) VS #31 HOEHNE (7-13-1)
Monte Vista is the lone remaining unbeaten in the field, with the Pirates rolling to a 21-0 record in the regular season. The wrapped up the unblemished regular season with a sweep of #26 Sanford last Saturday. Chayse Bouet doubled, tripled, and drove in five runs in a 17-1 win by the Pirates to open the twin bill. Landon Sanchez gave up a run on four hits in four innings to get the win. Kobe Jiron and Judah Howe combined to one-hit the Mustangs in a 12-0 win to complete the sweep. Manny Jiron aided the cause with a two-run homer.
The Farmers ended a three-game slide with an 11-0 victory over Rocky Ford on Tuesday, sending them into the regional field on a high note. Antonio Cantoria tossed a two-hit shutout for Hoehne, with the sophomore striking out nine and walking one. Marcus Dasko homered and drove in two.
Monte Vista and Hoehne did not play in the regular season.
#15 DAWSON SCHOOL (13-10) VS #18 NORTH FORK (13-10)
The Mustangs rode a three-game winning streak into Monday’s match-up with Colorado Academy, but that run ended with a 20-2 defeat. Milo Richtel and Jaxon Wheat each had one of the team’s two hits. Dawson School moved on from that loss to finish the regular season with an 11-0 win over Clear Creek on Tuesday. JD March struck out 11 in 4.2 no-hit innings, and Richtel got the final out to complete the combined no-hitter. Darren Sebek homered twice and drove in four.
North Fork lost four of its last five in the regular season, including the finale against Gunnison, 16-3 on Tuesday. Braden Laiminger drove in two of the runs for the Miners, and Konner Crawford pushed the other one across the dish. The Miners had six hits, three by Crawford.
These two teams did not play during the regulars.
There are no potential rematches in the regional final.
REGION SEVEN (HOSTED BY LIMON)
#7 LIMON (13-8) VS #26 SANFORD (12-10)
In a season defined by extended steaks, Limon finished with two wins following a run of five straight losses. The Badgers broke the skid with a 4-3 win at #10 Wray last Saturday. Limon led 4-1 going to the bottom of the seventh, and then had to hold on for the victory. Dreison Davis had two RBI, and Camdyn Tacha stole three bases. The Badgers added a 6-1 road win over #14 Lyons on Monday. Brody Scherrer gave up one earned on three hits in six innings to collect the win.
Sanford had a rough end of the regular season, as the Mustangs were swept by Monte Vista 17-1 and 12-0 last Saturday. Roman Edgar drove home Colton Reynolds with the lone run in the opener. Edgar also had the only hit for Sanford in game two.
This is the first meeting of the year between the Badgers and Mustangs.
#10 WRAY (17-6) VS #23 PLATTE VALLEY (8-15)
The 4-3 loss to Limon was the second straight defeat for the Eagles, who had also lost 12-5 to 3A #14 Brush last Thursday. Broderick Kite doubled and drove in two runs in the loss to Brush. Gage Waitman had three hits against Linon, including a double. Ben Riggleman raked a triple in that loss.
Platte Valley snapped a six-game losing streak, all against regional qualifiers, with a 5-0 win over 3A #26 Valley on Monday. Hazen Weber tossed a complete game no-hitter, recording eight strikeouts and three walks. Braxton Hopkin had two hits and two RBI for the Broncos. Jackson Bauer scored twice.
These two squads did not meet in the regular season.
Wray and Limon could play for the second time in a week if both advance to the regional final. That is the only potential rematch in the final.
REGION THREE (HOSTED BY YUMA)
#3 YUMA (19-4) VS #30 BURLINGTON (6-15)
Yuma finished the regular season red-hot, as the Outlaws won their last 13. That included a doubleheader sweep of Burlington last Saturday. Yuma trailed 2-0 after one in game one, but came back to take a 4-2 victory. After giving up those two runs in the first, Reyli Trejo shut the Cougars down the rest of the way, earning the complete game victory. The Outlaws finished off the sweep with an 11-0 run rule win in five innings. They pounded out 14 hits, three by Brodie Kallweit. Jesus Rodriguez and Jose Ross combined to limit the Cougars to just two hits.
For Burlington, that sweep extended its skid to three games, as the Cougars had also lost 15-0 in four innings to Las Animas earlier in the week. Aaron Knight and Scout Humrich had an RBI apiece in the 4-2 loss to Yuma, and Daxton Skarpohl took the loss after allowing all four runs, with only two of them earned. He went the distance and struck out five without walking any. Erik Cano and TJ Castillo had a single apiece in the 11-0 loss in game two.
#14 LYONS (12-9) VS #19 CEDAREDGE (14-8)
Following a five-game winning streak, Lyons ended the regular season with three straight losses. The last of those came on Monday against Limon. The Lions could only muster three hits in the 6-1 loss at home, two by Jake LaCrosse, who scored the only run for them. LaCrosse was solid on the hill, striking out 17 in 6.1 innings, but he took the loss as five errors caused five of the six runs he allowed to be unearned.
The Bruins won four of their last five, including wins of 14-4 over Dolores last Friday, and 17-10 against Rangely last Saturday. Cedaredge got two RBI apiece from Hunter Hoerr and Rylan Brooks in the win against Dolores. The Bruins got their 17 runs against Rangely on 13 hits, with Brooks registering three of them. Logan Sanders and Dane Brown had three RBI apiece in the win. Brooks swiped three bases, as did Carson Rupp.
Lyons and Cedaredge did not face each other in the regular season.
There are no potential rematches in the regional final.
REGION SIX (HOSTED BY DAYSPRING CHRISTIAN)
#6 DAYSPRING CHRISTIAN (14-5) VS #27 BYERS (9-14)
The Eagles had a five-game winning streak snapped in a 3-2 loss against Estes Park last Saturday, but they got back in the win column on Monday by downing Wiggins, 6-3. They were held to two hits by Estes Park, including an RBI double from Beau Rupp. The bats warmed up a bit in the win over Wiggins, as the team racked up eight knocks, two by Simon Sholders. Quentin Kissler gave up three unearned runs in six innings. He struck out 10.
Byers enters the round having lost its finale to Bennett 6-2 on Monday. It was the fourth loss in five games for the Bulldogs. They were held to five hits, two by Christopher Papainopol. Osiris Aldana and Gabe Price had a double and an RBI apiece. Price added two stolen bases.
Dayspring Christian defeated Byers 10-3 back on April 10th, with Gavin Bohl homering and driving in three runs. Owen Steward earned the win by giving up two runs (one earned), on four hits in five innings. He punched out 13 and only walked one. Price had three hits for Byers, including a home run. He and Jack Earl stole two bags apiece.
#11 BUENA VISTA (18-4), VS #22 OLATHE (13-8)
After a two-game losing streak in late April, Buena Vista won its final six outings of the regular season. The last of those was on Monday, a 14-7 decision over Clear Creek. A five-run second gave the Demons a 7-3 lead, but Clear Creek came back to make it a one-run game with three in the top of the third. Buena Vista scored seven of the last eight runs, including a five-spot in the sixth, to take the win. Blake Kinkaid and Logan Scott had a pair of RBI apiece for the Demons. It was a bit of an adventure on the mound, as three pitchers combined to strikeout 14, walk 10, hit two, and throw seven wild pitches.
Olathe dropped its final two contests of the regular season, the latest being a 10-0 shutout by Basalt on Monday. The Pirates could only come up with three hits in the loss. They allowed 13 hits, five of them for extra bases, and issued five walks.
Buena Vista and Olathe opened the season with a doubleheader that the Demons swept. Reed Lundy hit a three-run bomb for the Demons in the 9-1 game one victory. Bridger Vincent had two hits and an RBI for Olathe.. Buena Vista broke a 7-all tie with a run in the top of the seventh in game two to earn an 8-7 victory. Carter Stromer had two hits, including a double, and drove in two for BV, while Bryce Good doubled home two runs for the Pirates.
While both semifinals are rematches, any possible match-up in the final will be the first meeting between the finalists this year.
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