MEEKER | The Meeker High School baseball team opened its week on the road in Parachute on Tuesday, facing Grand Valley. The last meeting between the two teams came May 6, 2025, when the Cowboys earned a 4-0 win. This time, however, the Cardinals responded on their home field, edging Meeker 10-9 in eight innings.
Despite the loss, Meeker continued to show offensive growth, scoring nine runs on eight hits while drawing eight walks to maintain pressure throughout the game. The Cowboys finished with a .267 team batting average and added eight stolen bases in an aggressive effort on the basepaths.
Sophomore Logan Selby led the offense, going 2-for-5 with a triple and two RBIs. Junior Heriberto Lopez also contributed, finishing 2-for-4 with two RBIs and a run scored, while senior Augie Halstead added a hit, an RBI and reached base twice.
Additional contributions came throughout the lineup, with Cade Mills, Gavin Allen and Hoyt Garcia each recording a hit. Meeker’s speed was also a factor, with Said Rodriguez and Jaxen Mills each stealing two bases.
On the mound, junior Cade Mills delivered a strong relief performance, tossing 4 1/3 scoreless innings with five strikeouts while allowing just three hits. Said Rodriguez started the game, allowing one earned run over two innings, while Lopez and Jaxen Mills also saw time on the mound.
Grand Valley capitalized on timely hitting and patience at the plate, collecting 14 hits and drawing 12 walks. JJ Whitting led the Cardinals with three hits and two runs scored, while Tyler Palcer and Wyatt Harris each drove in two runs.
The game remained tight throughout, with both teams trading runs before Grand Valley pushed across the winning run in extra innings. Meeker finished with a .931 fielding percentage, committing two errors, but the Cardinals took advantage of key late opportunities to secure the win.
“We need to continue competing,” head coach James Romansky said. “Constant one-run ballgames take a toll, but it shows how much more competitive and dangerous we are as a team than we were last year.”
Three days later, the Cowboys returned home for their home opener against North Fork. The teams last met May 10, 2025, when Meeker fell 7-4. The Miners again came out on top, defeating the Cowboys 7-5 in a competitive league matchup.
Meeker continued its offensive improvement, recording nine hits and posting a .300 team batting average, but was unable to overcome North Fork’s pitching late in the game.
Mills led the Cowboys at the plate with a standout performance, going 3-for-4 with a double, a triple and an RBI. He also scored a run and finished with a 2.250 OPS. Selby added two hits, including a double, while freshman Bryant Turner drove in two runs. Halstead and Garcia each added an RBI, and Lopez chipped in a hit and a run scored.
However, Meeker struck out 14 times, limiting its ability to sustain rallies. The Cowboys drew three walks and posted a .364 on-base percentage.
On the mound, Mills turned in another strong outing, pitching six innings with 11 strikeouts while allowing four earned runs. Lopez worked the final inning in relief.
North Fork tallied 10 hits and took advantage of key opportunities, using timely hitting to secure the win. Defensively, Meeker remained solid, committing just one error and finishing with a .960 fielding percentage, but North Fork’s consistency at the plate proved to be the difference.
“Grand Valley showed us we can’t coast, even with a lead,” Romansky said. “We have to treat every inning like it’s 0-0. And against North Fork, I liked how we fought. We didn’t roll over — we gave ourselves a chance late.”
Despite the pair of losses, Meeker continued to show progress, remaining competitive in both games against strong opponents.
“Each close game has come down to a couple plays,” Romansky said. “We’re very close. We can score runs and create pressure — now it’s about having the discipline to hold a lead.”
The Cowboys, now 1-6-1 overall and 1-3 in league play, will stay at home this week. Meeker hosts Moffat County for a nonleague doubleheader Tuesday, April 14, with games scheduled for 4 p.m. and 6 p.m., before wrapping up the week Thursday, April 16, against Basalt at 3 p.m. in another nonleague matchup.
“We’ve got to set the tone early and carry that intensity all week,” Romansky said. “It’s a busy stretch, so we’ll take it one game at a time and stay focused pitch by pitch. The boys are resilient — they know they’re close, and now it’s about turning those moments into wins.”
Despite the setbacks, Meeker has remained competitive in tight contests, showing steady growth as the Cowboys work to turn strong performances into wins as the season moves forward.
Meeker senior Augie Halstead (#3) stands on third base during the Cowboys’ home opener against North Fork, putting himself in scoring position as Meeker looked to generate offense. JARED HENDERSON PHOTO
Meeker sophomore Logan Selby steps into the batter’s box at home plate, settling in before an at-bat during the Cowboys’ matchup with North Fork. JARED HENDERSON PHOTO