RANGELY | With a 10-10 overall record, second place finish in the 2A Western Slope Conference and a ranking of 22 in the CHSAA Seedings Index polls, the Rangely Panthers baseball team qualified for the 2023 2A CHSAA state baseball tournament. The Panthers were paired with the number 11 seed Del Norte Tigers in Fowler, Colorado. The Tigers came into the match-up with a 15-5 overall record and a second-place finish in the 2A/1A Southern Peaks conference.
With high temperatures, high humidity and thick smoke in the air, the Panthers jumped out to a 2-0 lead after their first at-bats of the game. After the Panthers leadoff hitter Kevin Wren grounded out on a sharply hit ground ball to the Tigers shortstop, junior Dalton LeBleu started the Panther offense with a single to right field on the first pitch of his first at-bat. Luis Quintana then flew out to the Tigers right-fielder for the second out of the game. Sophomore clean-up hitter Marcos Quintana then lined the first pitch he saw to left field for a single to put runners on first and second base with two outs. Junior Kobey Chism then drew a nine-pitch walk to load the bases. Facing a 2-2 count with two outs, sophomore first baseman Landon Carlson knocked a single to center field to score LeBleu and Marcos Quintana. The Tigers scored on run in the bottom of the inning for a 2-1 Panther lead heading into the second inning.
The Panthers were then held scoreless for the next five innings despite having the bases loaded in two separate innings. The Panthers could not find the much needed hit to score a run with the Tigers tight defense. The Panther hitters were knocking balls all around the park, but the Tigers defense played well and made the plays when they needed to. The Tigers also kept the scoring going against the Panthers as they scored one run in the bottom of the second, third, fifth and six innings. The Tigers plated two runs in the bottom of the fourth inning. The Panthers scored one more run in the top of the seventh inning and were threatening to score more when the Tigers turned an unconventional double-play to end the game at 7-3.
Offensively, the Panthers were led by Dalton LeBleu. LeBleu went 3-4 on the day with three singles, one run scored, and two stolen bases. Marcos Quintana started on the mound for the Panthers and went three and two-thirds innings allowing four runs on six hits. Quintana walked five Tigers hitters and struck out three. Fellow sophomore Tristan Scott came in to relieve Quintana and gave up three runs with two walks and one strike out.
The Panthers finished their season with a 10-11 overall record and the program’s second straight berth into the CHSAA State Baseball Tournament. The Panthers graduated three outstanding seniors from the team this year in Kevin Wren, Luis Quintana and Drake Miller. Wren and Quintana were three-year letter winners for the Panthers. Their freshman year was canceled due to COVID-19 restrictions. Miller played his only year with the Panthers well.
Special to the Herald Times
