Rifle routs Glenwood

Big sixth inning secures win for Bears

Click to Enlarge Browse and Buy Post Independent Photos Rifle High School catcher Alex Haynes prepares to apply the tag to Demons player Mario Gonzalez during a game at Cooper Field on Tuesday. Gonzalez was called out in a close play at the plate. Chad Spangler/Post Independent

By Mike Vidakovich
Special to the Post Independent
Glenwood Springs, CO Colorado
April 9, 2008

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RIFLE, Colorado — The Rifle Bears took advantage of some key Glenwood defensive miscues and used a big sixth inning hit barrage, capped off by an Alex Haynes three-run homer, to propel them to an 11-0 victory on Tuesday afternoon at Deerfield Park.

Rifle jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead in the first inning without the benefit of getting a hit. Demon pitcher Patrick Hailey got Rifle’s leadoff man Zach Whitmore to ground out to the mound, but then issued walks to Kyle Bond and Haynes. Bond eventually found himself on third base after a pitch got past Demon catcher Chad Sommers. Bond scored Rifle’s first run of the game when Haynes, who was initially caught in a rundown on a Glenwood pick-off attempt, drew the attention of the Demon infield long enough to get his teammate to the plate and himself safely in at second base. Haynes would then score when Glenwood shortstop Matt Seaver misplayed a pop fly by Rifle’s Ernesto Mendoza.

Other than the first inning walks, Hailey was having a solid day on the mound for Glenwood. The big, junior right-hander kept the Bears in check through the fourth inning of play, and the Demons within shouting distance, still facing just a 2-0 deficit.

But with the Demon bats fairly anemic all afternoon, the visitors seemed relegated to waiting and wondering when the next Rifle push would come.

It came in the bottom of the fifth inning when the Bears’ Daniel Maldonado lined a hit to right field and advanced to second on a fielding error by Glenwood’s Ben Zieman. Cody Chick then beat the throw to first base on a perfectly executed bunt. When Hailey walked Whitmore, the bases were loaded with blue jerseys, and the Demons were feeling some heat. In stepped Bond once again. The Rifle pitcher smacked a shot to the mound that careened off of Hailey’s leg and got through the infield, scoring two runs and helping the Bears to exit the fateful fifth inning with a 6-0 lead.

With the added cushion, Bond set down the Demons in order to open the sixth inning. Rifle then ended the game in the bottom of the sixth by scoring five runs off Glenwood reliever Matt Snyder, culminating in Hayne’s shot over the right field fence.

Following the game, Glenwood coach Eric Nieslanik was lamenting some early fielding mistakes by the Demons that changed the complexion of the game.

“It was a very even game early on,” said the Demon skipper. “We just didn’t execute on defense, and the game got quickly out of hand.”

Nieslanik was optimistic at what may be ahead for his team after assessing the performances of Hailey and his catcher, Sommers.

“Patrick’s done a fantastic job every time he has taken the mound, and Chad always lays it on the line for us. We just didn’t have anything behind them today,” said Nieslanik.

Bond pitched a complete game for Rifle, and his coach, Troy Phillips, was equally as proud of him.

“Kyle pitched really well today. He worked very hard in the offseason to get to this point,” said Phillips.

The Demons drop to 3-12 overall and 1-6 in the Class 4A Western Slope League heading into this Saturday’s double header in Glenwood against Battle Mountain. The Bears vault to 6-4 overall and 3-2 in the WSL with a Saturday doubleheader looming versus the Steamboat Sailors.