RANGELY I The Rangely Panther baseball team has won eight of the last 10 games including six in a row within the 2A Western Slope Conference. The Panthers are also sitting at No. 25 in the Colorado RPI baseball rankings which determines who goes to the playoffs for the spring 2022 season. Recently the Panthers traveled to Parachute to take on the Cardinals of Grand Valley High School in a league double-header. The Panthers came away with 14-1 and 20-4 victories.
In game one, senior Keihlin Myers toed the rubber looking for his fifth win on the season. The Panthers were able to jump out to a five-run lead after the top of the first inning. The Panthers continued their hot hitting in the top of the third inning when they plated seven runs to bring the score to 12-0. Myers threw very well for the Panthers as he took a no-hit bid into the bottom of the fourth inning when The Cardinals were able to punch a hit to right-center and then later score their only run of the game. Myers struck out nine Cardinal hitters while only walking two. The Panthers added two more runs in the top of the fourth inning to make the game 14-1.
In game two, senior Justin Cudo took to the mound for the Panthers looking for his third win on the season. The Panthers continued to hit the ball well as they plated nine runs in the top of the first inning off the Cardinals. Myers plated three runs when he drove the first pitch the second time around the line-up of the inning for a home run over the left field fence. The Panthers scored in every inning of game two leading to their 20 runs in five innings. The 20-4 win put the Panthers at 11-6 overall and 4-0 in 2A Western Slope League play.
Two days later the Panthers hosted the Olathe Pirates for league games. The Panthers continued their offensive onslaught as they outscored the Pirates 14-4 for win number 12 on the year. Junior Kevin Wren picked up his second win from the mound this year as he went five innings. Sophomore Kobey Chism came in for his first appearance of the season and was able to close the door on the Pirates. Chism also led the Panthers on the day with three hits and scoring two runs. Wren drove in three RBIs for the Panthers on their way to scoring 14 runs.
In game two the Panthers were held at bay by the Olathe pitching for the first two innings as the Panthers hit the very hard in their at-bats, but the ball was hit right at Pirate fielders. The Panthers erupted for ten runs in the bottom of the third inning and that is all the Panthers needed as they did not allow a Pirate hitter to cross the plate in the game. The Panthers secured their 13th win on the season and their sixth in league play with the game two victory. Chism brought home the win as he started game two and then gave way to junior Luis Quintana who threw for two innings
Special to the Herald Times
