Rangely baseball loses two games on the road

RANGELY | Rangely High School continued its baseball road games this past week by traveling to Basalt High School on Wednesday; these games were rescheduled from the day before due to weather. The Panthers lost both games to a very experienced Basalt team. Sophomore Drew Brannan led the Panthers offensively by collecting four hits on the day including one double. Brannan also reached base safely on a hit by pitch in the second game. Sophomore pitcher C.J. Lucero came in relief in the third inning of the first game and threw great for the Panthers but the Basalt Longhorns proved to be too much for the Panthers and won the first game 15-0.
In the second game against the Longhorns the Panthers again fell behind in the first inning as the Longhorns continued their offensive assault. Freshman pitcher Dylan LeBleu threw well for the Panthers but the Longhorns proved to be too much for the Panthers again winning 22-0.
On Friday, April 7 the Panthers traveled to Paonia High School to take on the number one ranked Eagles in the first league match-up for both teams. Freshman Dylan LeBleu took the mound for the Panthers and was only able to make it through two innings as his pitch count became a factor of him continuing in the game. The Eagles jumped out to a 12-run lead after the first inning and continued their offensive onslaught through the rest of the game. Junior pitcher Anders Schopp took a perfect game into the fourth inning where Senior Harrison Heil was able to draw a walk from Schopp, moved to second on a passed ball then moved up to third on a fielders choice by Drew Brannan and then scored on the Panthers only hit of the day by Sophomore Tristan Moore. The Panthers fell to the Eagles by a score of 24-1.
During the second game the Panthers defense came to life and the Panthers kept the game within reach until the Eagles broke the game open in the bottom of the fourth inning by scoring five runs. Senior pitcher Harrison Heil threw three great innings for the Panthers but the Panthers were unable to collect the key hit needed to score runs as the Panthers had numerous runners on base during their offensive half of the inning but were only able to score one run in the top of the fifth inning. Sophomore Trenton Files was able to score on a passed ball in the inning to give the Panthers their lone run of the game.
The Panthers will travel to Cortez Colorado to take on Dolores High School and Ignacio High School on Friday, April 14. The Panthers will return home on Tuesday, April 18 as they take on cross county rival Meeker High School in Rangely at 2 and 4 p.m.