Casually conversing with the media and fans following last Friday's 16-1 thrashing of non-league 2A Center at IHS Field, senior Austin McCaw noted nobody had yet hit a ball over the revamped facility's fencing.
At least yet in a game. Junior Zach Weinreich, standing to McCaw's left at the time, had reportedly hit two out in practice, but the Bobcats-eager to have one of their own claim the honor-wouldn't have to wait much longer to see the first home run leave the yard.
Made late to the previous day's blowout victory by a pair of college classes in Durango, McCaw made up for lost time with a momentum-generating mash versus the 4A Bloomfield JV.
With sophomore Kruz Pardo and Tucker Ward on base, McCaw belted the resurfaced grounds' first tater to key a four-run third, an immediate response to BHS' taking of a 3-2 lead after IHS began with two runs in their first at-bat.
Ignacio later got six runs in the bottom of the fifth, with senior Chance Hine and Ward each whacking a double and the 'Cats also benefiting from two walks and senior Anthony Manzanares being hit by a pitch. That pu the writing on the proverbial wall for the guests up from San Juan County, doomed to fall 12-6.
"They're coming around," head coach Bert Miller had said, after the 15-run rout of the Vikings. That win avenged last season's 9-8 loss out in the San Luis Valley. "We're still building-it's still 'Spring Training' basically for us-and hopefully by the time league starts.. We've got our first one Tuesday against defending State Champions Dove Creek, and Tucker Ward will start that game on the hill."
And after the Class 1A Bulldogs scored a fast four runs, Ward settled in and didn't have to wait long for his own run support while opposing reigning 1A Player-of-the-Year Jordan Ernst.
The Bobcats put up three in the home half of the first, added two more in the second to take the lead, and then practically put the issue to bed with a five-run breakout in the bottom of the fourth. That gave Ward the win after working five frames and fanning eight (he'd gone four and K'd eight in getting the 'W' versus Center).
Junior Juanito Medina dealt two innings in relief, and struck out three while allowing just one DC run. Ignacio improved to 4-3 overall while more or less acing its first 2A/1A San Juan Basin League test, 11 to 6.
Manzanares scored three runs, and went 4-for-4 with four singles and stole two bases. Pardo (2-3, BB) also scored three times and McCaw twice on 3-4 stickwork. Ward was 2-4 with a double and a run, and Hine 0-3 with a walk and a run.
Ernst, meanwhile, singled and scored his first time up, but was thrown out 2-3 his next AB, and went down on strikes his final two tries. Senior Colin Hobbs scored twice in defeat and reached base in three of his four plate appearances as Dove Creek dipped to 3-6 overall, 0-1 SJBL.
"The team is starting to become a team," stated Miller. "They're playing together, they know what the other guys can do. They're playing as a team, instead of individuals.and we're improving every day!"
Up next, the 'Cats (4-3, 1-0) will welcome Nucla to their new digs tomorrow for a noontime start in continued circuit play. The Mustangs (3-6, 1-0) chewed up and expectorated Dolores on Tuesday, 17 to 6.
The struggling Bears then visit IHS on Tuesday, April 12, with first pitch set for 3 p.m.
CHSAANOW.COM CLASS 2A POLL (4/4): 1.Paonia, 2.Julesburg-Ovid Revere Sedgwick County, 3.Hotchkiss, 4.McClave-Wiley County Line, 5.Loveland Resurrection Christian, 6.Rocky Ford, 7.Rye, 8.Haxtun, 9.Swink, 10.Limon. Others receiving votes-Ordway Crowley County, Akron, Sanford, Sargent, Yuma, IGNACIO, Peyton, Kiowa-Simla, Burlington, Colorado Springs Evangelical Christian, Holyoke.
(Note: IHS and Peyton each received six points in the polling process; by comparison, tenth-ranked Limon received 16 points and #1 Paonia 89.)
