RANGELY | The Rangely Panthers opened their 2025 baseball season with back-to-back wins, defeating Western Slope League rival Grand Valley High School 10-6, and 1A Nucla High School 8-3. However, they dropped the second game of a doubleheader at Nucla, 4-2. Since that opening weekend on March 22, injuries have taken a toll on the Panthers’ varsity roster.
Rangely’s struggles continued in a 14-4 league loss to the North Fork Miners. Seniors Marcos Quintana and Landon Carlson led the team offensively with .500 batting averages, along with sophomore Bradley Lambros (.500), juniors Braxton Shaffer (.333), Landon Bollinger (.250) and Braden Lucas (.250).
Sophomore Hunter Fouch (1-1) started on the mound, allowing six runs (five earned) in three innings. Carlson came on in relief, giving up three unearned runs over three innings, walking two and striking out three.
The Panthers hosted the Olathe Pirates on April 10, entering with a 2-2 record (1-1 in league), while Olathe stood at 8-6 (2-1). Missing four starters to injury, Rangely still put up a fight.
Olathe jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first, but the Panthers answered to tie it in the bottom half. The Pirates added five more runs in the second and another pair in the third to lead 9-3. After tacking on five more in the fourth, Olathe threatened the 10-run mercy rule.
Rangely responded by loading the bases with one out. Freshmen Trey Lewis and Bryson Elam drew walks, and Bollinger followed with a single. Carlson’s single scored Lewis, cutting the deficit to 14-4. Quintana then ripped a line drive down the first-base line for a triple, scoring three more.
Quintana, however, suffered a hamstring injury while rounding second. The Panthers couldn’t plate another run to extend the game. Olathe added five more in the fifth and shut down Rangely to seal a 19-7 win in five innings, dropping the Panthers to 2-3 overall (1-2 WSL).
On April 12, Rangely traveled to Cedaredge to face the 7-1 Bruins. Carlson got the start and pitched three solid innings but was let down by the defense, which committed six errors. He allowed eight runs, only two earned.
Rangely’s offense was held to two hits, one each by Carlson and Elam. Bollinger scored the team’s lone run after getting hit by a pitch, advancing on a single and two wild pitches. The 12-1 loss dropped Rangely to 2-4 overall and 1-2 in league play.
Looking ahead, the Panthers host Grand Valley on Tuesday, April 15 at 2 p.m. in Rangely. They’ll travel to Meeker for a rescheduled game on Thursday, April 17 at 4 p.m. Then on Saturday, April 19, the Panthers head to Hotchkiss for a league game against North Fork at 11 a.m., followed by a non-league matchup with Center at 1 p.m.
