Coming not long after a disputed runner-interference call not only denied them a needed run in what was still just a one-run contest, but also ended their fourth-inning at-bat outright, the Bayfield Wolverines then blew up for seven game-breaking runs in the top of the fifth and went on to defeat Ignacio 11-1 in a six-inning affair Tuesday at IHS Field.
“It’s based on mentality and attitude for us,” senior outfielder Caleb Beck said. “I mean, we just kept connecting hits and …. If we start backing each other up and getting it together, then we can just get on the train … over and over.”
Hitting ninth, senior Daemon Christner led off the guests’ fifth by beating out an infield single, and after senior Estevan Gonzalez then singled and junior Josiah Mayfield legged out an infield hit, Bobcat pitcher Ambrose Valdez plunked senior Tavian Box, driving in Christner.
Junior Cameron Queen then grounded to third, plating Gonzalez, and Mayfield also scored via an error on what ended up being a fielder’s-choice roller. Freshman Aiden Tipton then hammered a devastating double plating Box and Queen.
Beck then drove Tipton in with a single to left before Valdez (L; 5 IP, 9 R, 2 BB, HB, K) got Tyler Harriman to pop foul to catcher Gabe Archuleta for the first out. Beck then arrived safely at second when Botsford (1-3, sac-fly, RBI) knocked a fielder’s-choice grounder to third, and scored when Christner (2-4, R, RBI) singled up the middle.
Valdez then managed to get Gonzalez to pop up to first baseman Stephen Romero, and Mayfield to fly to centerfielder Max Mendoza, but nothing more could be done to prevent BHS from stopping an ill-timed losing streak at four games (which their opponents claimed by a combined 57-15 margin).
Archuleta, who’d actually scored the game’s first run, was left stranded at the hot corner in the bottom of the fifth.
After Box began the guests’ sixth by doubling off IHS third baseman Flores’ glove and later scoring, as did Tipton, Mayfield (W; 6 IP, R, 2 BB, HB, 3 K) completed his no-hit start by retiring Flores, Joseph Atencio and Mendoza in order.
“We definitely needed confidence; I knew if we’d lost today we were going to be in a bad, bad spot … for playoffs,” Mayfield (1-4, R) said. “I did not want to get behind in counts and that’s kind of what helped me: A lot of 0-2 counts and, you know, just staying consistent.”
The Wolverines (7-12 overall, 2-2 3A Intermountain) will host Pagosa Springs (10-9, 2-4) at 11 a.m. Saturday for an IML doubleheader likely to have major postseason implications.
“I told the boys that’s the first one we had to win,” Bayfield head coach Clay Miller said, aware Bayfield must still face Montezuma-Cortez. “So Saturday, same approach; we’ve got to win two and keep that energy.”
Having wrapped up their 2A/1A San Juan Basin work, the Bobcats (9-6 overall, 7-2 SJBL) will next see action on Saturday, but will have to venture out to Sanford (10-7, 4-0 2A Southern Peaks) to do so. First pitch of the away doubleheader is set for 11 a.m. Results from IHS’ game Thursday at Cedaredge (10-7, 4-3 2A Western Slope) were unavailable at press time.
Archuleta (0-2, BB, R) reached base with one out in the bottom of the fifth, it was ruled via error rather than infield single. Valdez (0-2, BB), Zackariah Loudenburg (0-1, HBP) and Evan Maez (0-2, ERR) were the only other ’Cats to reach base. Swinging a hot bat as of late, Flores finished 0-3 with two unassisted groundouts to Christner.
