RBC I “The games against Meeker were as I expected; they were both a battle,” Rangely head baseball coach Paul Fortunato said about the doubleheader Saturday at home against the Cowboys. “Both team played extremely hard and let it out on the field.”
The Panthers won both games, the first 10-4, the second was won by one (8-7), in the bottom of the seventh inning.
Fortunato gave credit to his pitchers and said his team hit better against Meeker.
“Pitching was a positive for us, with four different guys handling both games and they all did phenomenal,” Fortunato said.
Senior Lucas Heinle started on the mound in the first game and classmate Cameron Enterline got the win after coming in to relieve Heinle.
Coach Fortunato said the second game of the doubleheader was much closer than the first.
“We led 6-2 at the top of the seventh inning, when Meeker capitalized on a few walks and then a clutch single by Tanner Matriciano, which was backed up by a clutch double from Hunter Garcia, put the Cowboys up 7-6 going into the bottom of the final inning,” Fortunato said. “With one out, Lucas singled to start a rally, then Cameron reached base on an error that scored Heinle, and Enterline moved to second base.”
Enterline then stole third base and Jesse Powell came up and got a hit to score Enterline and win the game.
“The team hit better this weekend than against South Park,” Fortunato said.
Powell led the team, going four of six from the plate, Kelton Elam had three hits and six at-bats while Enterline and Heinle both went two of six.
“All the guys did their part to get the wins with some timely at-bats and good situational execution,” Fortunato said.