MEEKER I The Meeker Cowboys increased their league record to 2-1 after winning two league games in Cortez last weekend. They are currently 8-3 overall. The Cowboys played a non-league doubleheader against the Panthers in Rangely Tuesday and will host the undefeated, number one ranked Paonia Eagles Saturday at Paintbrush Park in the first home doubleheader for the Cowboys.
The Cowboys lost 7-11 in a non-league game against the Coal Ridge Titans last week, where all but one Cowboy got a base hit.
Garrett Frantz, Todd Patterson and Luis Villalpando all pitched and Frantz was given the loss. Trapper Merrifield led the Cowboys from the plate, getting three base hits, Ty Gibson and Cooper Meszaros each had two and Hunter Garcia had two RBI’s.
“We out-hit the Titans 12 to 10 but just couldn’t seem to come up with the defensive plays we needed to keep them from scoring,” Meeker head coach Brian Merrifield said.
The Cowboys traveled to Cortez to play league contests against the Dolores Bears and the Ignacio Bobcats, where they defeated the Bears 9-7 and pounded the Bobcats 14-0.
Coach Merrifield said Frantz threw six innings, “keeping it close and then freshman Todd Patterson shut down the Bears in the seventh.”
Logan Hughes went three-for-three at the plate, stole four bases and had two RBI’s. Merrifield, Doak Mantle and Eli Hanks each had two hits, with Hanks recording four RBI’s.
“We were losing 2-5 in the top of the sixth,” Merrifield said. “We tied it up 5-5, then gave up two runs in the bottom of the sixth. These Cowboys just never quit, they dug in and kept battling.”
Coach Merrifield said Mantle led off the seventh with a clutch double, then the Cowboys went to work scoring four runs on four hits and a walk.
“This was a team win,” Merrifield said. “From the time we left Meeker High School on Thursday to the last out in the seventh, these guys—our bench players and managers included—became one and it showed in the outcome of this one.”
The Cowboys celebrated with a “quick tailgate lunch” before taking the field against Ignacio.
Patterson took the mound for the Cowboys and Gibson was behind the plate when the two combined for a 14-0 shutout on four hits, two strikeouts, no walks and zero errors from the Cowboys’ defense.
“We kept our bats hot from the end of the Dolores game and came out swinging,” coach Merrifield said.
Gibson, Hanks and Merrifield each had two hits, including an in-the-park home run for Merrifield in his second at bat.
“Trap is our lead off batter and he has been doing a great job of setting the tone and starting things
Gibson, Hanks and Garcia each had three RBI’s, while Hughes and Merrifield each added two.
“When you have pitching/catching, hitting/base running and defense like we did in Cortez, these guys can play with anyone,” coach Merrifield said. “Patterson and Gibson are fun to watch. Ty calls all the pitches for our team and he is great at controlling the base paths. They make my job easy.”
Meeker’s JV team split a doubleheader with Rifle and are currently 3-3.
Coach Merrifield is excited about his team’s first home game against the best team in 2A and he invites everyone out to Paintbrush Park for the doubleheader, the first starting at 11 a.m.
