Despite an excellent showing at the plate, the GHS baseball team could only snag one win in its home doubleheader against league rival Basalt on April 12.
The mixed results moved the Cowboys to a 6-7 overall record, and 1-3 in the 3A Western Slope League.
“It’s always good to have a challenge, and I think our opening schedule has been pretty tough,” said Head Coach Tom Percival. “We’re waiting for it to start paying dividends, and to take that next step. We have some guys like Marshall [Spann], Talon [Kibler] and Cody [Casebolt] that are starting to swing the bat really well. We’re taking little steps, and putting everything together is the big thing.”
After back-to-back losses to the red-hot Coal Ridge Titans last week, the Cowboys hoped to add league wins to the early season record. The Basalt Longhorns buzzed with confidence ahead of the matchup. They faced the Cowboys on the heels of a four-game win streak against Aspen and Moffat County. Still, GHS humbled the Longhorns in the opening matchup with a narrow, 10-8 victory.
The doors blew off the GHS ballpark in the second matchup, marking one of the closest games the Cowboys have faced so far this season. Basalt opened with a statement in the first inning. An early double and single from the Longhorns set the stage, and a no-out home run to left field cleared the bases. Heading into the second, the Cowboys had been hit with an immediate, 3-0 suckerpunch.
But Talon Kibler proved the Cowboys were prepared to scrap back into the contest. The GHS pitcher set a lightning pace with a leadoff double to the centerfield wall. Kibler then stole third, and Marshall Spann triggered a two-out rally with a poke to right field. Rylee Berry responded with a shot to centerfield, reaching second base and driving home Spann. Kahne Chippini then reached on an error, and a final base hit from Cody Casebolt wrapped up the inning. After the dust had settled, the Cowboys took a 4-3 lead.
Following the long outing on the diamond, the Longhorns returned to the dugout with a fury. Basalt took advantage of Cowboy errors, and rounded the bases with two doubles in the second inning. Again, the away side sprang away with a lead, this time, sitting 8-4.
The Cowboys again relied on Kibler to get the wheels turning, and the senior rose to the occasion. Kibler smoked a pitch to left field, earning his second double of the game. The leadoff two-bagger inspired a Cowboy resurgence, and smart at-bat’s loaded the bases with a hit-by-pitch, and two walks. With two outs on the board, Casebolt polished off the GHS batting order with a two RBI double, clearing the bases to take a 9-8 lead.
After a three-inning stalemate, the Longhorns again squeaked ahead after a four-run, fifth inning. Berry and Chippini returned to the basepaths in the fifth after taking advantage of a Longhorns’ error and walk. Again, Kibler came up big for the Cowboys, and drove home the pair with a two RBI single to left. The contest stood level at 12-12 heading into the sixth.
The score stood even after seven innings, forcing extras as the light dimmed on Saturday afternoon. The Longhorns sprang into action in the eighth, sending three runs across home to take an immediate lead. Grady Buckhanan walked to open the Cowboys final stand. Chippini took the batters box, needing a miracle to keep GHS within reach. With two outs on the board, Chippini launched a home run missile over the left field wall. It pulled the Cowboys within one, and sent the home dugout into raptures.
The late heroics from the GHS senior were unable to pull the Cowboys ahead, and the home side fell agonizingly short. It ended as a 15-14 league defeat. Following a week-long reset, the boys will take on Delta in a home doubleheader on April 19 at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.
(Alex McCrindle can be contacted at 970.641.1414 or alex@gunnisontimes.com.)
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