Lakewood – Arvada West junior Jake Smith made a couple of things clear Wednesday.
First, if he goes up to the batter’s box against a Jefferson County League opponent, he will get a hit every game. Second, his Wildcats are not content with securing a position in the postseason. Smith and the Wildcats want a league title.
Smith kept his hitting streak against Jeffco opponents alive as well Arvada West’s goal of finishing atop the league standings during an 8-4 victory over Bear Creek at All-Star Park.
“(Bear Creek) was playing for a shot at the playoffs,” Smith said. “We’re not playing just to get there. We are looking to win league. … Our offense is so powerful, if we can back it up with defense we can do some real damage.”
Arvada West (10-6-1, 6-2 Jeffco) moved into a tie for third place with Dakota Ridge, one game behind league leaders Columbine and Wheat Ridge with two games left to play in the regular season.
Bear Creek (10-7, 3-6) dropped out of playoff contention and will end its season next week at Pomona. Eric Mattingly did most of the work for the Bears, going 2-for-2 with a triple, three runs scored and three steals. Evan Ljunghag went 2-for-3 with two RBIs, and Josh Newton was 2-for-2.
The Bears led 3-1 after three innings, but the Wildcats took control with a five-run fourth.
“That’s pretty much been the way for us. The games we lose, that’s what happens – one big inning,” Bear Creek coach Matt Hopper said.
Vince Capra started the big inning with a single for Arvada West, and he moved to third on a hit-and-run by Luke Campbell. However, after Campbell was thrown out at first base, Bear Creek’s Matt Pennell airmailed his throw to third trying to catch Capra, who then jogged home for a run.
Next up, Scott Flora doubled and Robbin Vinnola followed by ripping a single to left field to bring him home, which tied the score at three. Trevor Zott reached base with a single, and Smith drove in Vinnola with another hit to give Arvada West the lead for good.
Arvada West 100 502 0 – 8 10 1
Bear Creek 201 000 1 – 4 8 4
Arvada West – Zott lf 4-1-1-0, Smith c 4-0-3-2, McDougal cf 3-0-2-1, Harmer rf 3-0-0-0, Capra 2b 3-1-1-0, Campbell ss 3-0-1-0, Flora 1b 3-1-1-0, Mestdagh dh 2-0-0-0, Vinnola 3b 3-2-1-1, Benallo dh 1-1-0-0, Biren dh-cr 1-2-0-0. Totals 30-8-10-4.
Bear Creek – Opperman cf 3-0-0-0, Mattingly 2b 2-3-2-0, Nelson dh 2-0-0-0, Ljunghag ss 3-1-2-1, Harris rf 3-0-1-0, Newton 3b 2-0-2-1, Pennel 1b 2-0-0-0, Parthymueller lf 2-0-0-0, Daniel c 2-0-1-0, C. Anderson p-1b 1-0-0-0, J. Anderson p 1-0-0-0. Totals 23-4-8-2.
E – Vinnola; Newton, Pennel, Ljunghag, Mattingly. LOB – Arvada West 7; Bear Creek 7. 2B – Harmer, Campbell, Flora. 3B – Mattingly. SB – Mattingly 3, Pennel; Capra. CS – Ferguson, BC, 2. Batteries – Lemieux, Zendejas (4) and Smith; C. Anderson, J. Anderson (5) and Daniel. W – Lemieux (1-1) . L – C. Anderson (5-2). WP – Lemieux. PB – Daniel. HBP – Campbell by J. Anderson.
