MHS softball team defeats defending champs in opener

MEEKER | “Base hit and we celebrate,” third base coach Dr. Chris Williams told his batter Tilly Brown during the opening game against the Basalt Longhorns, defending league champs. She did just that, and she and her team celebrated after defeating the Basalt Longhorns 6-5. The lady Cowboys will host the Rifle Bears at Paintbrush Park in a non-conference game Friday at 4 p.m.
The Meeker High School girls’ softball team was hosting the defending league champions in the first game of the season and the situation was one many young athletes imagine while growing up: bottom of the seventh, score tied, the hometown team against the defending champs, two outs, winning run on second, then your coach says; “Base hit and we celebrate,” which is what you do, with a line shot to left-center field. Let the celebration begin.
The Meeker girls jumped ahead of the Longhorns 3-0 after the first inning was played, then neither team scored in the second. The defending champs put two runs on the scoreboard in the top of the third inning and the Cowboys added two in the bottom of the fourth.
The Longhorns pulled to within one after scoring two in the fifth and tied the game with another run in the sixth before Meeker’s defense held the defending league champions scoreless in the seventh, giving the home team another chance in their final at bats and the rest is history.
Meeker’s varsity will host Rifle on their home field in Paintbrush Park starting at 4 p.m followed by a JV game.