By John Cackowski
State Director

Highlands Ranch-The Pine Creek Eagles came up to Highlands Ranch to face the 5A defending state champions Rock Canyon with an undefeated record and they left it that way. In a game of two of the better 5A programs over the last few years, the Eagles did not have much trouble with a Rock Canyon team that has been plagued with some unfortunate injuries to start 2016.

Without on of their top hitters 2016 SS Daryl Myers (Benedictine College) who is lost for the year with a wrist injury, the Jaguars had a hard time generating offense against 2016 6-foot-6 left handed Brice Johnson (Creighton). Johnson cruised through most of the game pitching into the 5th inning giving up 5 hits and striking out 4 to get the win. 2016 RHP Bobby Rexroat competed for 6 innings for the Jaguars on the mound, but ended up leaving the game giving up 11 runs, 8 of which were earned.

In the top of the first inning 2018 1B Justin Olson set the tone with a deep solo shot over right center to put the Eagles up 1-0. Then in the Top of the 2nd 2018 OF Jeremy Onken led off with a walk, and 2018 Cade Kleckner reached on an error by Rexroat and Onken came all the way around to score on the over throw to 1st. 2016 C Riley Gregory (University of Northern Colorado) then came up and drove Kleckner in with an RBI single to go up 3-1.

The Eagles would continue to pile on runs. 2016 OF Wade Council would do a lot of the damage with and RBI single in the 3rd, and an RBI double in the 5th. Then the game was broken wide open when Onken came up with the bases loaded and drove in 3 runs with a double.

The Final Score of the game was Pine Creek 11 and Rock Canyon 2. Pine Creek next plays at Palmer on 4-9, and Rock Canyon will travel to Broomfield on 4-7.