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Peetz advances to regionals

Bulldogs down Prairie, defeated by Fleming

FLEMING, Colo. – The big task before the Peetz High School baseball team at the District 1A North Central championships at Fleming (Colo.) High on Thursday was win game one and punch its ticket to the regional tournament next week.

Mission accomplished.

Three Bulldogs pitchers combined to throw a one-hitter as Peetz defeated Prairie 5-1 in the district semifinals. The big prize, however, went to the Fleming Wildcats, as they won the district championship later in the day by defeating Peetz, 9-3. Fleming had defeated Weldon Valley, 11-1, earlier Thursday.

The Wildcats and Bulldogs both advance to the regionals on Saturday, May 9 at a site and time to be determined. The Colorado Activities Association will announce the regional brackets on Monday afternoon.

Bradey Holtz, Cody Wilson, Garrett Roelle combined to muffle the bats of the Mustangs in game one in a fast-moving, well-played game that included just one Mustangs error.

"We had some sore arms that we've had for a few weeks," said Bulldogs head coach Darrin Fehringer. "I thought we were over them, but we had some problems with them again today. We had to use several pitchers, but we fought through that."

The only hit Prairie could manage was an infield single that ricocheted off the pitching rubber in the top of the fifth inning with Roelle on the hill. The Mustangs scored their lone run after two walks and and a pickoff attempt that went awry in the sixth.

While the Bulldogs were slow to start, their offense finally broke through in the fourth with a four-run rally started by a Holtz double to center. After Wilson was hit in the back by a pitch, Brian Roelle drove home the first Bulldogs run with a single up the middle. Later in the inning, RBI singles were added by Alex Curlee, Tyler Gentry and James Ommen.

Holtz, who was the hitting star of the game with a double and a triple, opened the game on the mound. After fanning the leadoff hitter, Holtz yielded a pair of walks and hit a batter.

"Bradey's situation was just frustration," Fehringer said. "There was a big hole in the mound and he was just frustrated with it. At that point, I thought it was just better to go with Cody (Wilson) and it worked out well."

Wilson came on and struck out both batters he faced in the inning to silence the bases-loaded threat. Wilson threw hitless, scoreless ball before being removed with one out in the fourth. He left after soreness in his shoulder began acting up.

"We had only one practice since we had some track meets last week and maybe that's why it hurts now," said Wilson, who broke the school record at 400 meters earlier in the week.

Holtz was again the catalyst in the fifth inning as he led off the frame with a hard shot to deep center that went for a triple. One batter later, Wilson singled to left to bring home Holtz.

In the district championship game, freshman Logan Sircey took to the hill and struggled in parts of the first three innings during which Fleming opened a 5-0 lead. Sircy allowed just one hit and no runs in his final two full innings of work. He tired, however, and was removed after facing two batters in the sixth.

"Logan, for being a freshman and coming in to pitch a district championship game, I think he did an excellent job," Fehringer said. "I'm proud of all the kids. I think they did a good job today."

THURSDAY'S BOXSCORES

District semifinals

Peetz 5, Prairie 1

Prairie 000 001 0 – 1 1 1

Peetz 000 410 x – 5 9 0

Prairie: Mychal Ortiz and Brandon Gorman. Peetz: Bradey Holtz, Cody Wilson (1), Garrett Roelle (4), Bradey Holtz (6) and Brian Roelle.

2B – Bradey Holtz (Pz). 3B – Bradey Holtz (Pz).

District championship

Fleming 9, Peetz 3

Peetz 000 020 1 – 3 7 2

Fleming 221 004 x – 9 6 0

Peetz: Logan Sircy, Garrett Roelle (6) and Brian Roelle. Fleming: Ben Lambrecht, Blake Meredith (4) and Anthony Lousberg.

2B - Blake Meredith (F), Ben Lambrecht (F), Keegan Mann (F).

HR - Darian Wilkening (F).

 

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