Prep Baseball Report

Brad Cochi From the Colorado Dugout: Silver Creek walks off Pueblo West to enter final four unbeaten


Brad Cochi
Northern Colorado Senior Writer

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By Brad Cochi
Northern Colorado Senior Writer

COLORADO SPRINGS – In the final game of the Class 4A state tournament’s opening weekend, top-seeded Pueblo West and Silver Creek were the remaining unbeatens playing for the right to enter the double-elimination bracket’s final weekend without a loss.

Much in the same way many of the games played at UCHealth Park on Friday and Saturday did, the winners’ game came down to the wire.

In the bottom of the seventh inning, Silver Creek 2019 Tanner Regan hit a walk-off single to cap a 6-5 victory for the Raptors and send them to the final weekend in excellent position to compete for their program’s first state title.

“Honestly, we all just play for each other and I couldn’t ask for a better team,” Regan said. “This has been the best baseball season I’ve ever had and it feels great to do that for my team. I have a coach and a lot of teammates who have a lot of confidence in me, and that gives me confidence. It was just great to come through when my team needed me.”

Not only did Regan come up with the biggest hit of the game, and maybe the Raptors’ weekend, he battled through a gritty six-inning start at a point in the tournament when quality innings were a hot commodity. The senior allowed five runs (three earned) on six hits while striking out four and walking three.

The Raptors (26-2) led early after a two-run first inning courtesy of a two-run double from 2019 Justin Swenson that plated 2020 Michael Wegleitner, who went 3-for-4 at the plate on Saturday to cap a 7-for-12 performance in three state tournament games, and 2019 Spencer Rich. But they appeared to be bothered by Cyclones starter 2019 Tyler Barth’s mid-60s velocity over the next two innings.

Pueblo West (25-3) took the lead with three runs in the third, ignited by a triple from 2019 Tyler Declusin, who went 5-for-13 in three state tournament games for the 2018 runners-up and catalyzed two incredible come-from-behind wins on Friday.   

But Silver Creek responded with three runs on four hits in the fourth and tied the game with two more runs in the sixth. In the bottom of the seventh, Wegleitner singled to lead off the frame and Rich reached on a bunt single. With one out, both runners moved up on a wild pitch and Regan singled on a hard ground ball through the left side to walk it off. 

“That’s just fun baseball,” Silver Creek head coach Brad Steward said. “When you beat somebody by 10, it’s fun. But walk-offs are way more fun. This was a good game played by two quality teams and doing the small things right worked out, and I’m glad we got it. They’re a very well-coached team with a ton of really good players and we will see them again.”

Silver Creek 6, Pueblo West 5

At UCHealth Park

Pueblo West (25-3) 003 002 0 – 5 6 1

Silver Creek (26-2) 200 300 1 – 6 13 2

W – Vialpando. L – Davis.

Pueblo West hitting (ab-r-h-rbi) – Jameson 3-0-0-0, Declusin 4-1-1-1, Cordova 3-1-0-0, Blackford 4-0-2-1, Mason 3-1-0-0, Barth 4-1-1-0, Dionisio 2-0-0-0, Tate 3-0-1-0, Gist 1-1-1-2. Totals 27-5-6-4. 3B – Gist, Declusin. SB – Cordova 2, Gist, Rudd.

Silver Creek hitting (ab-r-h-rbi) – Jackson 4-0-2-2, Wegleitner 4-2-3-1, S. Rich 4-1-2-0, Swenson 4-0-1-2, Regan 3-1-2-1, Hassert 3-1-1-0, A. Rich 3-1-1-0, Magill 3-0-1-0, Olinger 3-0-0-0. Totals 31-6-13-6. 2B – Swenson. SB – Tate.

Pueblo West pitching (ip-h-r-er-bb-so) – Barth 3.2-8-5-5-0-2, Stiner 1.1-2-0-0-0-0, Davis 1.1-3-1-1-0-0.

Silver Creek pitching (ip-h-r-er-bb-so) – Regan 6-6-5-3-3-4, Vialpando 1-0-0-0-0-1.