Day 1 Notes and Highlights from Centennial State Games

June 1, 2018
PBR Colorado Staff

The 4th annual Centennial State Games put on by Prep Baseball Report Colorado kicked off yesterday with 80 teams in the 17U and 18U levels competing up and down the Front Range. The best teams in the state are participating this weekend at local colleges such as Metropolitan State College, University of Colorado, Colorado Springs, and Colorado School of Mines, while also competing at local high school fields. Below are some notes and highlights of day one action.

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Metropolitan State Site

Game One - Loveland Aces 3 vs. Batters Box Gray 0

The Loveland Aces were led by a CG shutout from 2019 LHP Zach Harstad. Harstad pitched to both sides of the plate to keep the Batters Box Gray off balance. Batter Box Gray also got a great pitching performance from 2020 RHP Joel Basille. Both teams managed only 10 hits combined.

Game Two - Slammers Cronican 7 vs. Batters Box Gray 0

Slammers Cronican received a steller outing from 2019 RHP Patrick Strawbridge (West Point). Strawbridge dominated the Batter Box Gray hitters only giving up 1 hit through 6 and 2/3 innings striking out 4. 2019 3B Jake Greiving led Slammers Cronican offensively with a 3-4 day which included a double and 2 RBI's.

Game Three - Slammers Cronican 3 vs. Alberta Prarie Sticks 2

In a game that matched up two solid RHP, 2019 Riley Cornelio (Texas Christian) matched up with 2018 pitcher RHP Jacob Kush (Northwest Florida State JC). With Cornelio living in the low 90's, and Kush upper 80's, Cornelio got the best of the Prairie sticks limiting them to 1 hit over 5 innings striking out 7. After Cornelio was relieved by 2019 Ethan Gedrose, the Prairie Sticks made a run scoring two runs off a RBI Double by 2019 3B Justin Breen. The Prarie Sticks would threaten in the 7th, but 2019 Calvin Hunt would stop the ralley to earn the save. Jake Grieving provide a solo hr for Slammer Cronican which ended up being the winning run.

University of Colorado, Colorado Springs Site

Game One - Team CO Arnold 12 vs. Rogue 0
Team CO Arnold jumped ahead early in this contest using a big first inning, scoring 5 runs in route to a 12-0 win over Team Rogue. Team Colorado was led offensively by Lucas Campbell who went 2-3 with a 3B, 1B and 4 RBI’s. On the mound 2020 Hayden Cooper was flawless, pitching a complete game 6.0 inning shutout. He allowed 2 hits and struck out 6.

Game Two - NOCO Roughnecks 15 vs Team CO Arnold 11
In a wild back and forth game that consisted of 19 total walks, the NOCO Roughnecks prevailed over Team CO 15-11. The Roughnecks were able to get on base consistently in the early innings and use a balanced attack offensively, scoring their 15 runs on 10 hits while also drawing 8 walks. 2020 OF Bryce Parsons paced the Team CO Arnold offense with a grand slam, triple and 5 RBI’s.

Game 3 - NOCO Roughnecks 9 vs Slammers Stevensen 2
In the final game of the first day of pool play at UCCS, the NOCO Roughnecks used a consistent offensive approach to close out Slammers Stevenson by the score of 9-2. The first 5 innings of this game featured a good pitching battle between Curstens for NOCO and Jayden Dooley for Slammers Stevenson. Curstens went 6 innings earning the win on the mound giving up 2 earned runs, allowing 2 hits and striking out 6. On the other side, for the first 4 innings Dooley used a good mix of off speed pitches and fastballs to keep NOCO batters off balance at the plate and limiting them to 3 runs. That changed in the 5^th inning where the Roughnecks scored 4 runs to extend their lead and take control of the game in the later innings. The Roughnecks capitalized offensively with runners on base and received contributions throughout their lineup.

Colorado School of Mines Site

Game One - Colorado Yard Dawgs 5 vs. Elite Baseball 3:

Colorado Yard Dawgs starting pitcher pitcher, 2019 Kian Manmano, set the tone for the Yard Dawgs victory with ten k's. Elite pitcher 2018 Reece Noel went five complete holding the Yard Dawgs to three runs in the effort. The highlight of the game goes to Yard Dawgs 2019 SS Justin Boyd (Oregon State) who crushed a two run walk-off HR against Elite relief pitcher Jackson German in the bottom of the 7th. Elite OF 2018 J.D. Wadleigh (South Mountain CC) was 2-3 with a two run triple in top of the third inning followed by a run scoring single by OF Sage Schaller.

Game Two - Slammers Fiscus 9 vs. Elite Baseball 3:

Slammers Fiscus came out swinging early and put up six runs in the first inning off of Elite Baseball starting pitcher 2018 Jack McLaughlin (Northeastern JC). The first inning was highlighted by a 2018 OF Luke Bailey (St. Cloud State) grand slam to put Slammers up 4-1 in the bottom of the first inning. Elite relief pitcher 2019 LHP Tony Cass came on in the 5, struck out eight, and held Slammers scoreless for the duration of the game. Unfortunately, Elite was unable to capitalize on the relief performance and could not push across enough runs. Elite was paced by CF J.D. Wadleigh who swiped two stolen bases in the effort.

Game Three - Cherry Creek 4 vs. Slammers Fiscus 3:

Cherry Creek came out on top thanks to some timely hitting by Miguel Marquez, who hit a crucial two out two run triple to put Creek up 4-3 in the top of the six. Creek starting pitcher Campbell Thurman went 2 1/3 until being knocked out of the game by a line drive to the face. Creek Relief pitcher Sam Hayes came on in relief and held Slammers Fiscus scoreless until Marquez's devastating run scoring triple. Creek closer 2018 Tyler Schultz (Metropolitan State) earned the save with a 1 2 3 bottom of seven inning to secure a Cherry Creek victory. Slammers Fiscus startiing pitcher Jaden Boles (Nebraska-Kearney) kept Cherry Creek hitters off balance with six K's for five innings.

Dakota Ridge Site

Game Three - Grandview 8 vs. Batters Box 6

Grandview defeated Batters Box, 8-6, they were led by OF 2019 Jayden Martinez who had an rbi double in the 2nd and delivering a grand slam home run in the 5th inning during a 5 run inning. Starter Tanner Novak pitched well and into the 5th inning. 2018 OF Frankie Shearn had two hits, an rbi, and two stolen bases for the Batters Box.

Game Three - Grandview 12 vs. Dakota Ridge 6:

Grandview defeated Dakota Ridge 12-6, and they were fueled by two big innings, a 5-run 4th and a 4-run 6th led the Wolves to a 12-6 win. Josh Hojnowski delivered a single and a two run home run, Jayden Martinez added a triple. Dakota Ridge was led by Tyler Myers who had an rbi triple and a great assist on a throw to the plate from centerfield. Also, two great plays from Jake Sandsbury on pop flies that he gathered in going away from the infield and covering a large amount of ground.

Game Three - Cherry Creek 4 vs. Slammers Fiscus 3:
Slammers Haines defeated Dakota Ridge 7 to 3. Vargas pitched a complete game for Slammers scattering 8 hits and striking out 11, a high quality performance. Julian Zamora had 4 singles and 4 rbi's. Preston Tenny showed outstanding defense at shortstop for the Slammers Haines team.
2019 OF Zach Parker had the big blow for Dakota Ridge with a 3-run homer in the 7th inning.

Game Three - Colorado Aces 14 vs. Slammers Haines 8:
Colorado Aces defeated Slammers Haines 14 to 8. The Aces were led by Nathan Witonsky who had three singles and a double with three rbi's, they also got solid pitching from Josh Barker, Matt Berk and Jake Barker. Josh Barker also had three hits for the Aces with two rbi's. For Slammers, Preston Tenny threw six innings and was hit by some defensive miscues that took away from an excellent pitching performance.

Regis Site

Game One - Regis Jesuit 9 vs. Team Colorado 0
Regis started of the tourney with a big win over Team Colorado Geigner. Regis was led by Aidan O’Donnell for Regis. Aidan pitched 4 strong innings, striking out 8 hitters, and allowing just 1 hit. At the plate for Regis 2019 C Johnny Stoughton had a great day going 2 for 3 with 3 RBI’s.

Game Two - Rough Riders 9 vs. Regis Jesuit 0:
Rough Riders got it going in the 3^rd and 4^th innings, scoring 3 in the top of the third and another 3 in the top of the fourth to take a commanding lead. Starting pitcher fJack Drakel for the Rough Riders went five innings allowing just 4 hits with 6 strikeouts, and offensively, 2018 Nick Levensteins (University of North Georgia) was 3 for 4 with two RBI’s, and leadoff hitter 2019 OF Teddy Schoenfeld was 3 for 4 with an RBI.

Game Three - Slammers Givens 5 vs. Rough Riders 3

Slammers (Givens) Pitcher, Nolan Livsey shut down the Rough Riders after allowing 3 runs in the second inning. Nolan went six innings allowing just 5 hits to go along with 6 strikeouts.
Offensively, Caleb Albaugh was 3 for 3, and Luke Folsom was 2 for 2 with two RBI’s
Pitcher, Jenner Kehe came in and closed it out it with a perfect inning.

Game Four- Slammers Givens 17 vs. Slammers Fiscus 0

Slammers (Givens) 17 Loveland Aces 0
Slammers came out swinging scoring 13 runs off 8 hits and 4 errors by the Loveland Aces in the top of the first inning and never looked back. Slammers pitchers did an outstanding job combining for a no-hitter. 2020 RHP Carson Brown threw just one inning for Slammers Givens and then 2020 RHP Josh Pinello pitched the next four innings striking out 9 Loveland Aces hitters. Offensively, 2020 C Josh Beattie had a great day going 3 for 3 with a double, triple and 3 RBI’s.

Cherry Creek Site

Game One - Slammers Embry 1 vs. Lightning Blue 0
Slammers road the strong pitching performance of 2019 RHP Jake Campbell and 2019 RHP Ben Kowalski to a 1-0 win. Campbell and Kowalski only surrendered 6 hits and 1 walk while shutting out Lightning Blue. Slammers Embry loaded the bases in the bottom of the 8^th and scored the winning run on a passed ball. 2019 RHP Owen Lockner walked to start the inning and later scored on the passed ball.

Game Two - Brighton 5 vs. Slammers Fiscus 1

Did Not receive Roster Information from Brighton

Game Three - Brighton 5 vs. Team Colorado 4
Brighton hung on for a 5-4 win going 2-0 on the day. Brighton used a 4 run inning in the second to take a lead. In that second inning Brighton had two walks, one single, a double and a triple to score the 4 runs. Brighton did not submit roster.

Game Four - Slammers Akerfelds 12 vs. Team Colorado 0
Slammers scored early and often on their way to 12-0 win. 2019 1B Garrett Thibault didn’t need much help as he limited to Team Colorado Varley to just one hit while striking out 7 in 5 innings. Garrett also only issued one walk on the day. 2019 2B Matt Klein paced the offense for Slammers going 3 for 3 with a double. Charlie Deeds also collected 2 hits for Slammers.

Wheat Ridge Site

Game One - Windsor 9 vs. Wheat Ridge

*No Rosters Submitted

Game Two - Premier West 6 vs. Wheat Ridge 5
Premier West had a hot start scoring 4 runs in the top half of the opening frame. Wheat Ridge would then battle back to score two of their own. Premier West’s consistent and timely hitting was too much for the Farmers to handle as PW closes the game to a 6-5 victory.

Game Three- Premier West 12 vs. Arapahoe 4
Starting pitcher Paul Brophy gave his team a strong, lengthy start going 4 innings only allowing 3 ER. Premier West’s bats were hot again tallying 12 runs in only 5 innings. Third basemen Parker Dorrance broke the game open with a two RBI double in the third while team mate Vince LaConte had two hits himself with 3 RBIs. This would give PW plenty of room to cruise to a 8 run victory.

Lakewood Site

Game One Lightning Gold 10 Lakewood 1
The scores of this game does not do the game justice. The game was 3-0 in favor of Lightning Gold for much of the game. Lightning scored early and then Lakewood settled in. Lightning used a 7 run 6^th inning to put the game away. Colton Chase was 2-3 with 2 RBI and Maxwell Marshall added a 2-2 day with 1 run and 1 RBI for Lightning. Kellen Cox went 5 strong innings allowing 0 runs and struck out 6.

Game Two Lakewood 5 Colorado Bandits 1
The Tigers rebounded in game two of pool play. They were in control of the game through out and saw big performances from Ricardo Sales who went 1-3 at the plate and had 2 RBI. JJ Black had a nice performance on the mound. He was in control of the zone all game going 5 strong innings allowing 1 hit, 1 run and struck out 5.

Game Three Triple Crown Wolves 7 Colorado Bandits 1
The Wolves were in control from the get go, coming out and taking an early lead. Drew Norsen went 1-4 at the plate with 2 RBI for Triple Crown. Jackson Romero came up big for TC with 2 RBI to extend the lead. Carter Young was on the the mound for Triple Crown striking out 4 in his outing.

Game Four Rocky Mountain Oysters #2 10 Triple Crown Wolves 0
The Oysters made the trip east from Grand Junction and showed no effects from the long drive. The Oysters put up 10 runs on 10 hits. They used the middle part of the game to get going scoring 2 in the 4^th, 3 in the 5^th and 5 in the 6^th to end it.