RHS Panthers suffer first loss of season

RANGELY I That first loss of the season can be a reality check.
“It was a humbler for the team. They realized they are not indestructible,” said Rangely High School baseball coach Paul Fortunato.
Still, the Panthers are off to a fast start, with a 8-1 record. But that doesn’t stop them from thinking they should be 9-0.
“We feel good about things, but we would have liked to have gone 9-0,” Fortunato said. “We definitely put Paonia in position to win that game.”
The Panthers split a doubleheader against league opponent Paonia on Saturday, losing the first game 8-7, but winning the second 13-7. They also beat Steamboat Springs in a single game Friday 10-2 at home.
Daniel Garcia was the winning pitcher against Steamboat, while Dillon McTague earned the win in Game Two against Paonia.
“Our pitching staff has been phenomenal,” Fortunato said, mentioning Garcia, who is a junior, McTague, a freshman, and Kody Denny, a sophomore. Garcia and McTague both sported 2-0 records, while Denny was 1-1.
While the pitching has been good so far this season, the Panther’s hitting has been really good.
“With our bats being as hot as they are, it’s really helped our pitching,” Fortunato said.
Kody Denny and Kindal Cushman both hit home runs in the win against Paonia. For Denny, it was his first round-tripper of the season. For Cushman, it was his second. He also hit a home run the week prior against Coal Ridge.
One of the unexpected surprises of the season has been the play of another freshman, Chas Byerly, who went four for seven with a triple and three singles in the Paonia doubleheader. He was named player of the week.
On Tuesday, Rangely swept rival Meeker, winning the first game 14-3 and the second game 10-5. Kody Denny improved his record to 2-1 with the win in Game One, while Dillon McTague upped his mark to 3-0 with the win in Game Two. Adam Dahl hit his first home of the season for the Panthers.
Rangely will host Hayden in a doubleheader at 11 a.m. Saturday.