TJ has improved to 2-0 in the league, but has remained .500 at 4-4.
Photo by Ed Gloor
In a back and forth battle with Ralston Valley on March 22, TJ ended with the loss at 15-10, even after Senior First Baseman Evan Walter hit two homeruns.
Ralston Valley got out to a very quick 8-0 lead in the first two innings against TJ Pitcher Sam Reed. Reed started his third game of the year, this one against Ralston Valley, with a 1-1 record and a 4.85 ERA. Of the eight runs that were given up, only two were earned. Reed and the rest of the Spartans defense settled into the game over the next three innings, not allowing another run until the sixth inning. Reed left the game with five strikeouts and one walk.
The Spartan offense went as the defense did. They couldn’t muster any runs in the first two innings, but then exploded in the third. Of the eight batters that came up in the third inning, five scored and TJ was right back in the game. Each side didn’t score in the fourth and the Spartans tacked on one more in the fifth to make the score 8-6 in Ralston Valley’s favor.
The game then became very interesting in the sixth inning. TJ scored four runs, thanks to Walter’s second blast of the game and the nine RBIs he had overall in the game. TJ went into the sixth inning with a 10-8 lead, and Junior Closer James Dipaulo was put on the bump to keep the lead for the Spartans. Dipaulo ended giving up seven runs, one homerun, and only got one out. Junior Issac Manzanares went in to pitch the final two outs. The game was called due to time constraints, and TJ lost by a 15-10 talley.
TJ had to go play the next day against the league rival West Cowboys and won 21-9 thanks to another homerun from Walter and six more RBIs.
TJ looked for the blowout early in the game going up 5-1 after the first. Sophomore Cooper Bowermaster started the game and pitched well for TJ. Bowermaster ended up throwing three and one third innings with five earned runs and six strike outs. Dipaulo finished the last two outs of the fourth inning for Bowermaster and TJ was tied with the West Cowboys at nine runs a piece.
TJ didn’t want to find themselves with a league loss, and to West no less. The Spartans exploded in the final two innings by scoring 12 runs to cap off at 21-9 win over the Cowboys. Senior Captain Brandon Gonzales sealed the game by pitching two scoreless innings.
TJ’s last game was played on March 30th against the Eaglecrest Raptors and former Coach Tory Humphrey, and lost the rematch 7-4, even after TJ Sophomore Third Baseman Sean Kelley hit his first home run of the season.
TJ looked to have the victory throughout most of the game, but snatched defeat from the jaws of victory after allowing five runs in the sixth inning. “We couldn’t execute a simple pick play,” said Head Coach Robby Bales. “If we made that play, their momentum ends and we win the game.” TJ was up 4-2 going into the bottom of the sixth inning before losing the lead. Walter brought in two more RBIs in the game, and elevated his season total to 30.
TJ’s next game is Friday April 6th against the Kennedy Commanders at TJ at 4 p.m.
Mar. 8 L vs. Golden 10-4
Mar. 10 W vs. Gateway 16-3
Mar. 13 W vs. Aurora Central 19-0
Mar. 17 L vs. Creek 10-0
Mar. 20 W @ South 15-2
Mar. 22 L @ Ralston Valley 15-10
Mar. 23 W @ Denver West 21-9
Mar. 30 L @ Eaglecrest @ 7-4
Apr. 4 vs. Lincoln @ PPD
Apr. 6 vs. Kennedy @ TBA
Apr. 9 @ Lakewood @ 4 p.m.
Apr.10 vs. Montbello @ 4 p.m.
Apr. 13 vs. Standley Lake @ 4 p.m.
Apr. 16 @ Denver North @ 4 p.m.
Apr. 20 vs. Denver East @ 4 p.m.
Apr. 24 @ Northglenn @ 4 p.m.
Apr. 27 @ George Washington @ 4 p.m.
May 5 @ Prairie View @ 11 a.m.
May 7 vs. Mountain View @ 4 p.m.
