Cowboys coast at home tournament

Following a warm weather tournament in Arizona over spring break, the GHS baseball team fired on all cylinders against rival high schools. The Cowboys went undefeated at a home tournament last week, and gained confidence ahead of a quick league game stretch. The results moved the Cowboys to a 5-3 overall record, having yet to open their campaign in the 3A Western Slope League.

Despite struggling to notch a win in Arizona, GHS gained valuable experience against powerhouse teams. The Cowboys opened the trip with a game against Owyhee High School of Meridian, Idaho, who are three-time defending 6A champions. The Cowboys lost 14-0, but Head Coach Tom Percival said facing strong pitching and hot bats set the boys up for later success.

“Arizona was good, but it was tough,” Percival said. “We went down there to get better, and based on what we did this weekend, we did get better.”

The Cowboys returned to their home diamond for a tournament on March 28 and 29. Straight out of the gate, GHS impressed with not only a deep pitching rotation, but also an impressive batting lineup from top to bottom.

Taking on the Steamboat Springs Sailors in the opening game, the boys relied on smart at-bats to take advantage of the opposing pitchers. Talon Kibler opened a first inning rally with a poke to shallow centerfield, and Marshall Spann brought him home with an RBI shot to right. Ethan Pierce finished the inning with a two RBI singles past the second baseman to bring home Spann and Grady Buckhanan.

Armed with an early three-run lead, the Cowboys turned to pitcher Kellen Yoder to kickstart the defense. Despite giving up an early single, the GHS ace steadied the ship with two pop flies and a strikeout.

Landon Miller crushed a triple to the centerfield wall in the second, but couldn’t cross home to extend the lead. But back-to-back doubles from Buckhanan and Kahne Chippiani gave the Cowboys a 4-0 edge in the third.

The Sailors drove home three runners to tease a comeback late in the game. But the Cowboys defense held firm, and walked away with a 4-3 victory to start the home tournament in the win column.

GHS capitalized on the scrappy win with double-digit victories against the Meeker Cowboys and Battle Mountain Huskies. Against Meeker, Cesar Marmolejo led from the plate with two triples and two RBIs, while Rylee Berry earned a double to left field. Buckhanan anchored the defense from the mound, and inspired a 15-5 win.

Kibler wrapped up the weekend with solid reps on the mound, keeping the Husky hitters off balance and getting ahead in the count. A double and single from Chippiani, and two singles from Ethan Pierce coasted past Battle Mountain with a 13-3 victory, ensuring an undefeated record at the home tournament.

“Battle Mountain was our most complete game so far,” Percival said. “We were disciplined. Their pitchers had trouble throwing strikes, and we were able to get on base and get timely hits. And Talon did a really nice job on the mound.”

The Cowboys returned to action against Alamosa on April 1. Scores were not available by press time. GHS will face league leaders Coal Ridge in a doubleheader on April 5, and return home against Basalt on April 12.

(Alex McCrindle can be contacted at 970.641.1414 or alex@gunnisontimes.com.)