Unbeaten in the state of Colorado and winners of the Intermountain League, the Bayfield Wolverines are anxious to host a home state tournament game.
The Bayfield baseball team outscored its IML opponents 96-21 in eight games this season. The Wolverines (16-3, 8-0 IML) capped off the league schedule and regular season with wins of 17-3 and 13-3 against Centauri (6-10-1, 2-7 IML) on Saturday at home at Bayfield Middle School.
“We won the league championship pretty decisively,” BHS head coach Jonathon Qualls said. “There was not anyone who really gave us too much of a game; we handled everyone. It is a good feeling when nobody is that close to playing with you.”
The Wolverines finished the season in style. Trey Lange was 3-for-4 with a grand slam home run and a two-run home run in the first game of the day, and he added another three-run homer in the second game while going 1-for-2.
Zane Phelps was 3-for-4 with a three-run homer in Game 1 and 2-for-4 with a homer and triple for four runs batted in in Game 2.
Matthew Knickerbocker was 3-for-3 with a homer of his own in the first game.
“We’ve been hitting the ball great all season, but especially the last few weeks. For (Lange) to have three home runs and (Phelps) to put two out (Saturday), it is pretty special,” Qualls said.
Brody McGhehey also was 3-for-3 with a double in Game 1.
Knickerbocker pitched the first game. He went four innings and gave up three runs on six hits while striking out four. Kelton McCoy came on to close the game out.
Lange was on the mound for BHS in Game 2. He pitched a complete game and allowed three runs on seven hits and two walks while striking out six.
“The pitching has been really good. We’ve got guys who can come on in relief and great starters,” Qualls said. “The team is playing all three phases very well, and the fielding has really come around the last five weeks.”
The state tournament bracket will be released Wednesday. Qualls hopes the committee awards his club with a home game despite playing in a weak league.
“We hope to be around the four- to six-range as far as seeds. Usually, because our league isn’t the best, we drop down a bit with all the Front Range voters,” Qualls said. “It is hard to know exactly what all they’re thinking, but we definitely hope to host a game next week.”
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