1A COLORADO STATE BASEBALL TOURNAMENT: Peetz falls in opener to Community Christian

 LAKEWOOD, Colo. – The Peetz Bulldogs are going to miss their seniors.

For the upper classmen on the Peetz High baseball team, they can take pride in having reached the Class 1A CHSSA State Baseball Championships for the third consecutive year.

Unfortunately, the Bulldogs were eliminated from the tournament by dropping their opener to the second-ranked Community Christian Crusaders 17-0 at All-Star Park.

While the Bulldogs' (5-8) season came to an end, the Crusaders (19-3) moved on the the semifinal game against Dove Creek where it too was eliminated 8-5. The win by Dove Creek puts it in the championship game against Granada at a date, time and venue to be determined. Granada earned its way to the final with a 14-7 win over Fleming and a 13-6 victory over Nucla.

The 2016 Bulldogs will not have the services of Bradey Holtz, J.D. Kogl, Brian Roelle or Garrett Roelle. Holtz and Brian Roelle have been three-year starters while Garrett Roelle has started since he was a freshman. Holtz led the team in hitting this season with a .438 batting average while Brian Roelle hit .361 and Garrett Roelle .293.

Despite their positive season, the Bulldogs ended their campaign by struggling both offensively and defensively against Community Christian. Holtz picked up the only hit of the game – an infield single in the fourth inning.

"We played these guys earlier this season and they've improved tremendously since then," said Peetz head coach Darrin Fehringer. "They hit from top to bottom in their lineup. They played their best game of the season from what I know of them and we probably played our worst game."

Opposing the Bulldogs from the mound was Crusaders' senior Jacob Hodge, who boasts an ERA less than 1.00. He went the distance to pick up the five-inning victory. Hodge also collected three hits in four at bats from the leadoff spot. With a season average over .700 coming into the contest, Hodge's performance was about average for him. As a team, the Crusaders are hitting .344.

After Logam Sircy led off the game with a walk and later stole second, Hodge set the Bulldogs down quietly. In the bottom half of the frame, the Crusaders exploded for seven runs after sending 12 hitters to the plate. Wilson yielded to Holtz after getting one out in the first. Sircy came on in the third inning and finished the game.

The Crusaders kept up the pressure in the second and third innings by scoring four and six runs respectively. In all, Community Christian banged out 15 hits including a pair of doubles by Jon Werzinski. The Hodge no hitter was broken up by Holtz in the fourth inning – a clean infield single that Holtz legged out.

"I wish it could have been a hit to the outfield, but a hit is a hit," Holtz said. "I've really enjoyed playing the last three years here and proud that we've made it to state in each of them."

SCORES

Tuesday, May 12

At All-City Stadium, Denver

Granada 14, Fleming 7

Nucla 13, Stratton/Liberty 8

Granada 13, Nucla 6

At All-Star Park, Lakewood, Colo.

Dove Creek 2, Holly 1

Community Christian 17, Peetz 0

Dove Creek 8, Community Christian 5

1A State Championship

Site, Date and Time TBD

Granada (7-6) vs. Dove Creek (11-12)

BOXSCORE

Community Christian 17,

Peetz 0

Peetz 000 00 – 0 1 4

Comm. Christian 746 0x – 17 15 0

Peetz: Cody Wilson, Bradey Holtz (1), Logan Sircy (3) and Brian Roelle, Bradey Holtz (3). Community Christian: Jacob Hodge and Luke Rumbyrt.

2B - Justin Werzinski 2 (CC).