Ripping a mostly inexperienced, if not rookie-grade, Ignacio pitching array last Saturday evening, the Sargent Farmers knew they weren't facing the best Bert Miller and his staff had to offer.
They'll likely see at least one such hurler tomorrow when the teams clash again in the San Luis Valley.
And another 14-run rampage?
If senior left-hander Zach Weinreich throws against SHS the way he did against Buena Vista on Day 1 of the 2017 IHS Invitational last Friday, it would seem most unlikely.
Pit against the Demons' own standout lefty but also plagued by CHSAA's pitch-count rules, Miller had to pull Weinreich with the score tied at 1-1. Weinreich, who received a no-decision, had plated Timmy Plehinger-Williams with a fourth-inning knock to tie the score after five innings.
With multiple players out due to ineligibility, the Bobcats' bullpen-by-committee surrendered the deciding three runs during the sixth and seventh innings as Buena Vista held on to win 4-1.
Ignacio's bats came alive later in the day against 3A Pagosa Springs, but the improved Pirates overcame a 7-0 deficit after two innings to win an 11-8 shootout. That bumped IHS into the fifth-place game.
But despite a good night's rest and full day's wait, made even longer by Buena Vista's 19-16 win over league rival Salida in the championship, and PSHS' 6-4 defeat of 2A Dolores for third place, the 'Cats couldn't manage much against Sargent righty Ryan Davis.
Junior Marcus Chapman led off the bottom of the first with a single to left, but after reaching second base via Davis' wild pick-off attempt, was thrown out trying to swipe third. And in the home half of the second inning, Lawrence Valdez doubled to left but was hosed at third trying to stretch it into a triple.
Davis (W, CG; 5 IP, 0 BB, 5 K, HB), who'd scored the game's first run on a throwing error by catcher Plehinger-Williams, then retired 10 of the final 11 Bobcats he'd face in order. Only pinch-hitter Jaden Maez (batting for Valdez) reached base on shortstop Christian Schaller's error in the fifth.
Plunked by a first-inning delivery, Kai Roubideaux was Ignacio's only other baserunner in a 14-0 loss.
Senior Dalton Labarthe, who'd be relieved by four other pitchers, took the loss after giving up six runs (four earned) in his two innings starting the game. He walked three, struck out three and allowed three hits.
Next up, Ignacio (0-3) will head north to go head-to-head with Hotchkiss on April 1. An e-mail from IHS Athletic Director Rocky Cundiff also indicates a possible battle that same day with preseason #1 Paonia (HHS checked in at #5).
