Playing a home doubleheader against Bayfield on April 8, the Montezuma-Cortez High School baseball team suffered lopsided losses.
Despite the setbacks however, the Panthers exited the field feeling like a few small improvements could allow them to compete with the defending Intermountain League Champion Bobcats later this season.
Opening the doubleheader with junior Jasen Engel on the mound, M-CHS lost 8-2 in a game that was more competitive than the score showed.
Leading the way at the plate for the Panthers were sophomore Isiah Pena and junior Cutter Matthews, who had two hits each. Engel had a double, and senior Coby Baer added a triple for the Panthers, who had 10 hits as a team.
“We knew in the first game that they were going to be attacking the zone, and we tried to take advantage of that,” Pena said. “I felt good at the plate and was able to put make contact.”
M-CHS’ most productive offensive inning came in bottom of the first when junior Caleb Compton led off with a hard single to left field. Compton advanced to second on a throwing error by Bayfield pitcher Freddy Edwards and later moved up to third base on a wild pitch.
After strikeouts by both Baer and Engel, Matthews came to the plate with two out and drove a hard grounder into the hole between third base and shortstop, which resulted in an infield single and gave the Panthers a 1-0 lead.
“I noticed early on with our first three hitters that every pitch was a strike,” Matthews said. “I just got up to the plate and took advantage of that first strike that (Edwards) was throwing every time.”
The Panthers’ slim advantage did not last long. Bayfield’s Hub Brandon drove in two runs in the top of the second with a double that touched down in the right-field gap.
The Bobcats extended their lead to 5-1 in the top of the third thanks in large part to four walks by Engel, which included two with the bases loaded to drive in runs.
Although M-CHS cut the gap to 5-2 after a double by Baer and an RBI groundout by Engel in the bottom of the third, Bayfield extended its lead to 6-2 in the top of the fourth inning and 8-2 in the top of the seventh thanks to several soft hits that managed to fall just out of reach of defenders.
“It seemed like their little bloops would fall, and ours would find the glove,” said Panthers manager Tim Passell.
A bright spot for the Panthers came in the pitching of Matthews, who entered the game in the sixth inning and recorded six outs while surrendering two unearned runs.
“(Engel) was throwing a lot of fastballs, and I knew they weren’t going to be expecting a lot of off-speed (pitches),” Matthews said. “I don’t have the speed that (Engel) does, but I do have a good curveball and that’s what got them sat down most of the time.”
Looking to redeem itself with a win in the second game, the Panthers were stymied at the plate and lost 12-0 in five innings.
Compton started on the mound for the Panthers and surrendered 12 runs in 3 and one-third innings, which included seven unearned runs.
“(Compton’s) going to give you everything he has until he doesn’t have anymore,” Passell said. “It was not a bad outing at all.”
M-CHS was led at the plate by Compton, Baer, Pena and junior Andrew Medina, who each recorded hits. The Panthers mostly struggled against Bayfield starter Andrew Morgan however, as the team managed just four hits.
“One thing that we need to work on is hitting,” Matthews said. “There’s work to be done in practice and after practice next week.”
Now 3-7 on the season, the Panthers will next play on the road against Monticello on April 11 before traveling to Pagosa Springs for a doubleheader on April 15.
“We really wanted these (wins against Bayfield), but looking forward, we still feel like we can compete in this league,” Passell said. “I’m really proud of the way the guys fought today. We have a lot of confidence (moving forward).”
