Almost as amazing as the numbers the Wolverines put up offensively in sealing Senior Day were those they achieved defensively in starting it.with an ultra-rare home loss. In Intermountain League play, no less.
Pagosa Springs leadoff man Tyler Manzanares was officially 0-for-1 in four plate appearances during Game 1 of last Saturday's doubleheader at Wolverine Field.
The Pirates' 4- through 9-hole hitters were a combined bagel-for-15 against Bayfield junior pitchers Taed Heydinger and Kelton McCoy, who totaled an impressive 14 strikeouts while surrendering just four hits in the seven-inning oddity, which PSHS took by a 6-3 margin.
Plunked once by Heydinger (L; 2.1 IP, 2 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 4 BB, 2 HB, 5 K) and once by McCoy (4.2 IP, 2 R, 2 ER, BB, HB, 9 K), and also walked once by Heydinger, Manzanares finished with three runs scored atop Jim Fait's order and 2-man Austin Harker (2-3, BB) scored twice.
But the primary reason for Pagosa's unexpected defeat of #3-ranked Bayfield was Caden Henderson.
Other than a sixth-inning mistake pounded over the left-field fence for a solo home run by BHS senior Dillon Hoselton, eighth in Jon Qualls' lineup, PSHS' senior ace was outstanding in a complete-game win.
Henderson held one of the classification's top-hitting teams to just six hits and, despite walking four Wolverines, was really only penalized by the big blast as the Pirates recorded all but two Bayfield outs in the infield-including leftfielder Martin Rodriguez's key throw-out of Heydinger at home in the bottom of the third.
The right-hander, who struck out five, got as many purple jerseys to pop out in foul territory, most especially McCoy for the second out in the home half of the seventh with senior Matthew Knickerbocker aboard at second base-after a fielder's-choice grounder to shortstop James Gray which plated Anthony Chamblee-and junior Zane Phelps at first.
Junior Brody McGhehey then went down swinging to end the game and create something of a strange atmosphere for the presentation and recognition of seniors Knickerbocker, Chamblee, Hoselton, outfielder Colter McMenimen and reserve Ryan Heck and their parents prior to Game 2.
In which the Wolverines' revenge-a 26-4 avalanche-was practically R-rated.
BHS (16-3, 7-1 IML) led 5-2 after a competitive first inning, but built their advantage on PSHS (7-11, 2-6) to 8-2 through two and then put the game away with a combined 18 runs in the third and fourth frames.
Knickerbocker went 3-3 in five plate appearances, bashed a double and a homer, walked twice, drove in three and scored five times. McCoy was 3-3 with a double, three runs and four RBI, Phelps was 3-3 with four runs, and Heydinger 2-2 with four runs and two RBI.
Hoselton was 3-4 with three knocked in and two scored, and Chamblee 2-4 with three runs and a pair plated. Heck went 0-2, but drew two walks, scored once and also brought in another.
McGhehey started Game 2 for the Wolverines and earned the win after working 2-2/3 innings, walking seven and striking out four, while allowing four hits and all four Pirate runs. Phelps then threw the blowout's last 2-1/3 frames, gave up two hits and one walk and also K'd one.
Awarded the #3 seed by CHSAA in Wednesday's Class 3A State Tournament selection, BHS' postseason begins 10 a.m. at home tomorrow versus 30-seed Trinidad (6-13) in District 7 play. The winner will stick around to play again at 3 p.m. against the 12:30 p.m. winner between #14 Denver Sheridan (13-6) and #19 Buena Vista (10-9).
