Pueblo County baseball advances to state after regional playoffs
While Denver was hosting the CHSAA track and field state championships last weekend, Pueblo was playing host to two regional baseball playoffs.
Pueblo County and Rye High School each hosted games on their home fields, while Pueblo East and Pueblo South also competed in the Class 4A playoffs, though in different regions. Pueblo West also earned a playoff berth in Class 5A this year and was on the road to kick things off.
Here's a recap of how Pueblo-area schools fared in Colorado regional baseball playoffs.
Class 5A
Pueblo West
The Cyclones were on the road to start their playoff run and took on Ralston Valley in their first-round matchup. Pueblo West jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the second inning but could not add to their run total till the fifth inning. By then, Ralston Valley began to find success against starting pitcher Andrew Plutt.
Plutt went almost a full six innings and collected nine strikeouts along the way, although he gave up five runs before he was pulled late in the game. The Cyclones had a chance for a comeback late in the game, down 8-3 entering the final frame. However, they were only able to muster two more runs in the final inning and lost the game 8-5, ending their season.
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Class 4A
Pueblo County
The Hornets were one of two schools in Pueblo County to host a regional matchup, playing host to Cañon City in their first game.
On the mound for the Hornets was Braxton Vail, who threw a complete game. Vail gave up only four hits and allowed just one run while racking up eight strikeouts in the game. He also helped himself out at the plate, going 1 for 3 with a double and a run scored. Caulin Pighetti stepped up big for the team in this one, going 2 for 3 with a double and a home run while driving in three runs to help the team to a 6-1 victory.
The Hornets' second game of the day saw them matched up against Grand Junction High School. Roy Higinbotham started on the mound for the home team in what would ultimately be a hard-fought victory for County.
After taking an early 2-0 lead over the Tigers in the third inning, County added seven runs in the fourth to go up 9-0. Higinbotham helped himself out with two RBIs at the plate, as well.
The Tigers mounted a rally later in the game, scoring three runs in the fifth inning, one in the sixth, and four more in the final frame. Fortunately for the Hornets, the Tigers ran out of steam and could not complete the comeback. The home team walked away with the 9-8 win and advanced to the final eight teams in Class 4A.
Pueblo East
The Eagles were on the road and took on Northridge High School for their first-round matchup. The Northridge Grizzlies jumped out to an early 3-1 lead over the Eagles by the end of the third inning. In the fifth inning, Northridge added to their lead to make it a 4-1 game.
The Eagles answered back with a run of their own in the bottom of the fifth, but one more run in the top of the sixth was enough to take the wind out the East's sails. They ultimately lost 5-2, bringing an end to their season.
Pueblo South
The Colts were another team on the road to begin the playoffs as they traveled up the road to Colorado Springs to take on Falcon High School. The Colts expected the game would be an explosive one, and both teams came out swinging. South scored single runs in the first and third innings to try and keep pace with the Falcons. However, the Colts likely did not anticipate their opponents scoring eight runs in the first four innings and essentially closing the door early.
The final score was 10-2 in favor of the Falcons, bouncing the Colts from the first round.
Class 2A
Rye High School
Rye was the other Pueblo-area school that earned a home playoff game, and their first-round matchup saw them taking on Estes Park. The Bobcats took an early 1-0 lead over the Thunderbolts. However, Rye answered back in the third to tie the game 1-1.
In the top of the fifth, the Bobcats added two more runs to take back the lead, then stretched that lead in the sixth inning to 9-1. The Thunderbolts then answered back in the bottom of the sixth inning, driving in five runs of their own.
Rye needed to score another three runs to tie the game and force extra innings but were able to come up with only one run in the bottom of the seventh. The Bobcats took the game 9-7.
More: After a slow start at the plate this season, Rye's Riley Rochester is finding his stride
Looking forward at state baseball playoffs
The only team to advance this weekend was the Pueblo County Hornets. They will be playing in the CHSAA Class 4A state tournament on Friday at the University of Colorado Colorado Springs baseball field.
County's first-round opponent will be Riverdale Ridge. The first game of the double-elimination tournament begins at noon Friday. If County (22-3) wins their first game against the Ravens (21-4), they will face off against either Cheyenne Mountain or Severance later in the day.
Christopher Abdelmalek is a sports reporter for the Pueblo Chieftain and can be reached at cabdelmalek@gannett.com or on Twitter: @chowebacca.
This article originally appeared on The Pueblo Chieftain: Pueblo County baseball advances to Colorado state tournament
