Courtesy Photos
RANGELY | Starting the league schedule off with two wins to take the top spot in the Western Slope 2A Conference was the Panthers one goal heading into their home opener against the Grand Valley Cardinals. The two games were the first varsity games to take place in Rangely due to the crazy winter conditions that lasted into the spring sports season causing the Panthers to play four home games at a neutral site. Thanks to the efforts of Kevin Williams, Dylan Smuts of Bid D’s Field Services, and Mike Chism to clear the field of the snow that kept the Panthers off their field for the first five weeks of the season, the Panthers were able to enjoy the two home games.
The Panthers were able to take game one in deciding fashion 14-0. The Panthers scored in every inning with one, two, two, and nine run innings as they kept the Cardinals scoreless. The victory came behind a marvelous pitching performance by sophomore Marcos Quintana. Quintana threw the first no-hitter of his career while the Panthers offense was able to score runs consistently in the early innings. Quintana’s no-hitter was the first in over fifteen years for Rangely baseball. Quintana threw all five innings for the Panthers as he walked three Cardinal hitters and struck out eight.
Offensively for the Panthers in game one every hitter in the line-up reached base safely and all Panther hitters but two recorded hits in the game. Sophomores Landon Carlson and Marcos Quintana recorded two RBIs each of the Panthers nine RBIs. Senior Kevin Wren went perfect at the plate with a 1.000 batting average for the game and three runs scored. Fellow senior, Luis Quintana also reached base in all four of his at-bats with four walks on the day. Junior Kobey Chism knocked his first double of the season along with Landon Carlson and his first double of the season also.
By taking game one, the Panthers turned their focus to taking game two and stretch their winning streak to three games. They were able to do so with a final score of 14-3 in five innings. Junior Dalton LeBleu earned his second win of the season on the mound. LeBleu threw three innings while walking five and striking out five and giving up three hits and three earned runs. Luis Quintana came in for relief and gave up two hits, no runs, while walking one, and striking out one.
Kevin Wren once again propelled the Panther offense with a four-for-four day at the plate. Wren also scored three runs and had two RBIs with a double, and two triples. Marcos Quintana also went four-for-four at the plate with two doubles and three RBIs. Luis Quintana, Tristan Scott, and Kobey Chism all went two-for-three in the game with two runs scored respectively.
With the pair of wins, the Panthers moved to 4-4 overall and 2-0 in league play.
Taking to the road for trips longer than three hours is nothing new to the Rangely Panthers baseball team as they traveled three hours to Aspen on Thursday, April 20 and then six and a half hours to Sanford on Saturday to play four games. Mother Nature had her own plans as the Panthers found out they would not be able to play in Aspen after reaching their destination. Facing the adversity of traveling but not being able to play, the Panthers returned home to get back on the bus the next morning departing for Sanford.
The two games in Sanford were the first match-up between the two 2A schools. The Panthers came into the games riding a three-game win streak and a 4-4 overall record. The Mustangs entered with a 3-5 overall record. Toeing the rubber for the Panthers was sophomore Marcos Quintana who was coming of first no-hit pitching performance of his career. Quintana quickly jumped into the same pattern in game one against Sanford. Quintana had a perfect game going into the bottom of the fourth inning. With the Panthers up 16-0 the mercy rule would be enacted if the Panthers were able to keep the Mustangs from scoring two or more runs. Quintana lost his perfect game efforts with two infield errors and a walk in the inning, but Quintana did keep his no-hitter intact. Quintana pitching stats for game were four innings pitched, one run, one walk, and nine strike-outs. The no-hitter was Quintana’s second on the season and in his career.
Offensively, the Panthers were led by the Quintana brothers and Marcos’ older brother who both had a 1.000 batting average on the day. Senior Luis Quintana had two hits in his two at-bats while also being hit with two pitches. Luis Quintana also stole four bases in the game for the Panthers. Marcos Quintana also recorded a 1.000 batting average by going three-for-three at the plate with a double and two singles and two RBIs. Marcos also walked one time and scored two of the Panthers 16 runs. Seniors Kevin Wren and Drake Miller both batted .500 in the game with Wren hitting two singles and Miller hitting one single. Freshman Braden Lucas recorded his first varsity hit with a single that scored two runs for the Panthers in the top of the fourth inning in a pinch-hit at-bat. The Panthers scored 16 runs in the game to the Mustangs 1 to end the game early in the fourth inning with the Panthers earning their fifth victory of the season putting their overall record at 5-4 and 2-0 in Western Slope League play.
In game two, the mission was the same for the Panthers, win and head home. The Panthers started the game with three runs scored in the top of the first inning. The Mustangs were able to respond with two runs of their own. This score stayed the same until the top of the fifth inning when the Panthers were able to plate another run and then two more in the top of the sixth inning. The Mustangs added one more run of their own in the bottom of the sixth inning. Junior Dalton LeBleu started on the mound for the Panthers and battled for three innings, fighting out of bases loaded no out situations twice before giving the ball to Sophomore Landon Carlson. LeBleu in his three innings of work gave up five hits, two runs, four walks while striking out three Mustang batters. Carlson threw four great innings of relief for the Panthers while only throwing 37 pitches. Carlson gave up three hits, one run, no walks and stuck out four Mustang hitters.
Offensively, the Panthers were led by seniors Luis Quintana, Kevin Wren and Dalton LeBleu. Quintana recorded one hit in four plate appearance with three walks. Wren had three hits, one double in four at-bats with two runs scored and one RBI. LeBleu also had three hits in his four at-bats with one RBI. Sophomore Tristan Scott hit .500 in the game with one hit and two walks, and one run scored. With the 6-3 victory, the Panthers pushed their overall record to 6-4 and 2-0 in Western Slope League play. The Panthers will host the Meeker Cowboys, on Wednesday, April 26 in Rangely at 4 p.m. for one league game.
Special to the Herald Times
