Custer County pitcher Garrett Oloman’s increased velocity throughout the second game of an April 2 doubleheader certainly made it more difficult for the Ignacio Bobcats to match their offensive output from earlier in the day.
But despite being held to one-12th of their Game 1 run total, seeing his Game 1 winning pitcher break up Oloman’s potential no-hitter with a fourth-inning single, then the ’Cats spoil the junior’s shutout in sequential style with a fifth-inning Zane Olguin double followed by pinch-hitter Nate Hendren’s RBI-triple two batters later – left head coach Duke Baker all the more confident in his crew’s development.
“We’re young, but we have great athletes all around,” he said. “Got some kids who haven’t seen a baseball in seven years, and … we’re trying to coach ’em up to be the best athletes they can be. They’re listening, and that’s all I ask as a coach.”
Ignacio won the first game against Custer County 12-5, but lost the second game 8-1.
“That first game, we came out energized – just like how I wanted them to come out,” Baker said. “Then the second game, you know, we kind of came lackadaisical here and there, but that’s just the way it is with these doubleheaders, you know?”
And despite being dealt a seven-run loss in Game 2 by the like-named Bobcats, spirits in IHS’ dugout were still high as a seven-run Game 1 triumph went down as Baker’s first win as varsity boss, and IHS’ first in the 2022 season.
“We had a couple errors that first inning, but we came back from them and picked it up, played good throughout the whole game,” Baker said. “Hits were there, our defense was there and Eppie (Quintana) pitched phenomenally.”
Throwing a complete game, junior Eppie Quintana (7 IP, 7 H, 5 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 4 K) allowed just three base runners after Ignacio’s advantage reached 12-5 by the end of the third inning. He closed out the contest getting CC junior Wes Jones to ground into a Jacob Gallegos-to-Rylan Maez 6-3 double play, then striking out junior Ty Bomgardner.
IHS leadoff hitter Devante Montoya went 2-for-3 with a double, a walk, two runs and one RBI. Fellow sophomore Gallegos went 1-2, was hit by two pitches, scored three runs and plated one. Quintana was 2-4 with three runs and as many RBIs. Maez, a sophomore, went 3-4 with a double in the victory.
Junior A.J. Stoltzfus (2.1 IP, 7 H, 11 R, 4 ER, BB, 3 HB, 3 K) started for CCHS and took the loss. Senior catcher Ben Penkoff went 2-2 with two walks and two runs. Senior third baseman Zach Fischer was 2-3 with an RBI.
Given the Game 2 start against Oloman, Montoya (2 IP, 2 H, 2 ER, 4 BB, HB, 2 K) would take the loss.
Sophomore Phillip Quintana (3 IP, 5 H, 6 R, 3 ER, 5 BB, K) and Gallegos (2 IP, H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K) also saw time on the hill for 2A Ignacio, which ended the day standing 1-4 overall. Oloman (W; CG, 7 IP, 4 H, ER, 3 BB, 9 K) and 2A CCHS returned to Westcliffe having improved to 2-2.
CCHS sophomore first baseman Joey Vergilio went 3-4 with three RBI and Oloman 1-3 with a sacrifice fly, a walk, a run and an RBI. Bomgardner and Stoltzfus each scored twice while going 1-for-3.
“Errors were something I wanted to cut out, and we did a great job,” Baker said. “Our defense was on point –Jake made a couple huge plays in the infield – and our outfield was on point … let nothing by. Pitching, we’re hit-or-miss with a couple guys, but I’ve got all the confidence that they’re going to step up these next couple games. We’ll be just fine.”
Up next, Ignacio will host Del Norte at 3 p.m. Thursday, two days earlier than originally scheduled.
