Robbed of a high-bounding hit by opposing shortstop Jake Taylor's dive, Kelton McCoy quickly tried to one-up the familiar foe.
Moved to the right side of Bayfield's infield after starting Tuesday's away contest on the mound, the senior easily scooped up Zack Taylor's and Derek Baca's grounders and retired both Aztec batters for a fast two outs beginning the bottom of the sixth.
However, Tiger Beau Crawford managed to beat out an infield single hit down the third-base line. After a Sebastian McNeil single and walk to Steele Justis, Crawford hustled home on a passed ball charged to BHS catcher Austin Bushnell with designated hitter Dustin Sipe at bat. This kept a once-unthinkable rally alive, guaranteeing Taylor at least one more plate appearance.
Having already seen their incredible 10-run effort at the afternoon's outset eroded to 11-10 going into the top of the seventh, the Wolverines did their best to put added pressure on 5A Aztec before that was to happen.
Senior Taed Heydinger led off, tripling to right off Tiger Bradly Maestas. Maestas had a rough game, surrendering eight hits (four being doubles) and walking a man as Bayfield sent 13 to the plate in swift succession during a devastating first inning.
Heydinger then scored two batters later when Taylor inexplicably threw awry of first baseman Cody Smith trying to gun down senior Austin Baughman. Maestas again justified head coach Wes LePlatt's confidence by getting Bushnell to fly to right and Fred Edwards to bounce out to second, keeping the deficit at a reasonable 12-10.
Back out on the hill to begin his fourth frame of fireman duty, having been touched for only one more hit than he'd already managed (3-for-4, with two runs and three batted in) himself to that point, Brody McGhehey certainly had boss Jon Qualls' backing with the Tigers' 8-9-1 spots due up.
But Smith singled back up the middle and Spencer Heyden then reached on a roller which somehow got through McCoy's legs.
And with one final swing, Jake Taylor (2-5, 3 R, 2 RBI) completed Aztec's ascension out of a hellish hole, astounding McGhehey (L; 3.2 IP, 6 H, 4 R, ER, 2 BB, 5 K) and the rest of the shell-shocked visitors.
Rocketing a drive to right, Taylor easily scored the Tigers already aboard, and then emphatically booked the winning run with a headfirst slide.
McCoy went 2-for-4 with a run and two RBI in defeat for Bayfield (4-3, 0-0 Intermountain), and senior leadoff man Logan Sabinski 2-3 with a sacrifice-bunt, two runs and as many driven in. Senior Zane Phelps was 1-4 with a RBI-double and scored once, Heydinger 1-4 with two runs, and Baughman went 1-3 with a double but did reach base all four of his plate appearances via a walk and two errors charged to the day's hero.
Utilized as BHS' designated hitter in the game, sophomore Michael Gettman was officially 0-for-0 hitting in the 9-hole, but drew two walks off Maestas (W, CG; 10 H, 3 BB, 3 K) with both resulting in runs, and a gutsy, two-out straight steal of home with Phelps batting in the top of the third.
Last night's home-opener against Olathe (5-5, 5-1 3A Western Slope) is welcome for the Wolverines, who are hoping to change their luck.
Up next, the Wolverines host the 5A Farmington (N.M.) Piedra Vista JV tomorrow at 11 a.m.
CHSAANOW.COM CLASS 3A POLL (4/4): 1.Eaton, 2.BAYFIELD, 3.Lamar, 4.Greeley University, 5.Gunnison, 6.La Junta, 7.Arvada Faith Christian, 8.Brush, 9.Englewood Kent Denver, 10.Gilcrest Valley.
Others receiving votes-Colorado Springs Christian, Colorado Springs St. Mary's, Parker Lutheran, Sterling, Pueblo Dolores Huerta Prep, Buena Vista, Monte Vista, Salida, Westminster The Academy, New Castle Coal Ridge, Trinidad, Broomfield Jefferson Academy, Olathe, Denver Sheridan.
(Note: BHS received 83 points in the polling process, while EHS received 87 and third-ranked LHS 72.)
