One tough inning knocks Peetz from state tourney

Jumping out to a 6-1 lead in the Class 1A 2014 CHSAA State Baseball Championships at All-Star Park in Lakewood, Colorado Saturday, Peetz had plenty of reason to feel optimistic about moving on.

But then the fourth inning happened.

Powered by five runs in the bottom of the fourth, the Dove Creek Bulldogs turned back the local 'Dogs in a first-round game 9-7. Although he held Dove Creek hitless through two innings and scoreless through three, Bradey Holtz was removed during a shaky fourth. Cody Wilson, who was charged with the loss, came on in that inning and finished the game.

"This is a young team and even the three seniors don't have a lot of experience," said Peetz Head Coach Darrin Fehringer. "It's not the way we wanted to finish but I'm excited about this team going forward the next couple of years."

Holtz, Tre Lewis and Garret Roelle gave Peetz a boost in the first inning as all reached base. The trio, however, were left stranded when the final out was recorded. Two more were left on the basepaths in the second when the Bulldogs couldn't pick up Holtz and Austin Wilson, who both reached on four balls.

Meanwhile, Holtz pitched to the minumum six batters over the first two innings, fanning three. He also only allowed one batted ball out of the infield - a well-struck fly that Corbin Heller tracked down in the right-center field gap.

The 'Dogs began quietly in the third with a pop out to second base. But then the Roelle brothers got a rally started. Garrett Roelle drew a walk and Brian Roelle was hit by a pitch. Jordan Nelson then spanked a two out, two-run single down the left-field line. He ended up at second on the throw.

"It was a curve to the inside and I just hit it where it was pitched," said Nelson of his big early blow.

Despite the two outs, the Bulldogs weren't through. Heller followed with a single, after which Nelson scored on a wild throw. Later Austin Wilson picked up an RBI on an infield single to score Heller.

"We all seemed to be swinging the bats pretty well early," said Heller. "Maybe it's a focus thing and maybe that's why we stopped hitting."

With two outs in the third inning Dove Creek went to its bullpen as Colin Hobbs yielded to Tyson Smith. Though Smith struggled early, both were abandoned by the Creek defense in the middle innings. Dove Creek committed six errors between the third and fifth innings.

"I didn't see any big difference between the two pitchers," said Nelson in a sentiment shared by Heller.

Dove Creek got one run back in the bottom of the third to trail 4-1. Case Baughman scored the run after getting his teams first hit. He advanced to second on a Holtz balk and scored on a base hit by Kyle Schultz.

Peetz answered that run in the fourth and added another for good measure. Logan Vach and Garrett Roelle both reached on errors at shortstop. Both eventually scored on wild throws.

The turning point came in the Dove Creek half of the fourth. Two infield singles, an error and a walk helped the 'other' Bulldogs cause. Schultz scored the tying run on a wild pitch.

"I was throwing mostly fastballs with some curves and a few knuckle balls," said Holtz. "I think maybe they were just catching on to some of the things I was doing."

Wilson came on in relief midway through the fray.

Said Coach Fehringer, "They were getting to Bradey a little bit and I just wanted to give them a different look," he said. "I have plenty of confidence in both pitchers."

Dove Creek took the lead for good in the bottom of the fifth with two more runs. Wilson fanned two in the frame but two singles and some aggressive base running put Creek ahead to stay.

Peetz mounted a small rally in the 7th after Holtz opened the inning with a walk. The speedy junior then reached second on a passed ball and stole third. Lewis knocked him home with a ground ball to second.

State Baseball

Peetz 004 200 1 - 7

Dove Creek 001 521 X - 9