Rifle loses doubleheader to Eagle Valley

Staff Report
Glenwood Springs, CO Colorado
March 30, 2008

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RIFLE — The Rifle baseball team started its 2008 Class 4A Western Slope League season on a sour note on Saturday after getting swept by Eagle Valley in a doubleheader at home.

The Bears lost the first game 4-3 and the second 12-1.

Rifle got out to a 2-1 lead in the fifth inning of the first contest, but the Devils scored three runs in the top of the sixth to take the lead away. The Bears got one run back in the bottom of the sixth, but couldn’t manage anymore runs.

Ernesto Mendoza hit a single and a double in the game and recorded one RBI. Zach Whitmore also connected for a double and a RBI.

In the second game, Eagle Valley jumped out to a big lead early with the help of multiple walks off of Rifle’s pitching. Asa Fix went 2-for-3 in the game with a single and a double, but there wasn’t much more offense for the Bears.

The Bears dropped to 0-2 in the WSL and 3-4 overall on the day, while Eagle Valley moved to 2-2 in league and 5-2 overall. Rifle will be back in action on Saturday when it will travel to Battle Mountain for another WSL doubleheader.

Gunnison takes two from Coal Ridge

OLATHE — Coal Ridge came within inches of its first Class 3A Western Slope League win on Saturday as the Titans held a 5-4 lead going into the bottom of the seventh in game one of a doubleheader against Gunnison.

Unfortunately for the Titans, Gunnison not only scored a run to send the game into extra innings, the Cowboys scored again in the eight inning to steal a 6-5 win. Gunnison then won game two 13-6 to complete the sweep playing on a neutral snow-free field in Olathe.

“All of our boys played really well in the first game and I think that first game took it all out of them,” said Coal Ridge head coach Luke LaBaw.

Darren Matthews pitched for the Titans in game one, while Jonathan Roessler was on the hill for Coal Ridge in the second.

The doubleheader opened up WSL play for Coal Ridge, who is now 2-4 overall and 0-2 in league. Gunnison is 2-2 in league and 4-4 overall.

The Titans will be back in action on Tuesday when they will host Hotchkiss at 4 p.m. at Cooper Field in Rifle.