By John Cackowski
State Director

Highlands Ranch - On Tuesday in a matchup of two 5A powerhouses the ThunderRidge Grizzlies came away with a 5-4 victory over the defending 5A state champions Cherokee Trail Cougars which could be a preview down the road when we reach the 5A playoffs.

Senior RHP Tim McIntyre toed the rubber for the Grizzlies to start the game and Junior RHP Isaac Hayden would start for the Cougars.

In the top of the first McIntyre was on the ropes early. Senior Eric Cox would lead the game off with a double, and then be driven in by Senior Nick Perez to take a one run lead. McIntyre would also give up another hit to senior Michael Morris which had the Cougars primed to blow the game wide open in the top of the first. Junior Gavin Bell almost did that with a deep ball to right field only to be caught by a diving catch by senior Jason Hall. McIntyre would then strike out junior Ethan Leisge to keep the game at 1-0.

In the bottom of the first junior Hayden was cruising, pumping a three-pitch mix into the strike zone early. Junior Tyler Cruickshank would reach on a fielders choice, and then junior Taylor White would come up and change the momentum of the game. White would go down 0-2 to Hayden, but fouled off 5 balls in what resulted into an 11 pitch at-bat wearing Hayden down. White would hit a hard line drive to left which would bounce over the Bell's head resulting in in a triple. White would then be driven in by senior Brody Perkins to take a 2-1 lead.

With McIntyre settling in pitching a scoreless 2nd and 3rd, the Grizzlies would manufacture two more runs in the bottom of the 3rd highlighted by a 2-out RBI single from senior Will Smith taking a 4-1 lead.

Junior Jake Haze would then hit a solo shot in the 4th making it 5-1, but then it would get interesting.

With junior RHP Reece Lansville in relief, Cox would lead off the 5th with a solo home run cutting the deficit to 5-2. Lansville would pitch out of a jam in the 5th inducing an inning ending double play to preserve the lead.

In the top of the 7th it would get interesting. Pinch-hitter Nick Gonzales would lead the inning off with a single, then junior Ryan Jones would hit a pinch hit home run to cut the deficit to 5-4. Perez and Morris would hit consecutive 2-out singles to put the tying run at second, but then Lansville would get Bell to fly out to end the game.

The game drops the Cougars to 2-4 on the season while the Grizzlies would improve to 3-3. The Cougars next play at Rocky Mountain on 3-24 in a rematch of last year's 5A state championship game. The Grizzlies will have a break until 4-3 with an away game against Arapahoe.

Highlights

ThunderRidge
Taylor White: 2-3, 3B, RBI
Will Smith: 2-2, RBI
Jake Haze: 1-3, HR
Tim McIntyre: 3 IP, 1 ER

Cherokee Trail
Eric Cox: 2-4, 2B, HR,
Nick Perez: 4-4, RBI
Blake Mackintosh: 2 IP, 1ER, 6 stikeouts.