Englewood – In case you forgot, they call themselves the Broomfield Eagles.
They began the season ranked No. 2, faltered a bit playing in the tough Northern League and then quietly slipped into the Class 4A championship series.
The Eagles didn’t leave quietly Friday as they pounded out 32 hits in two games, capped by a 17-2 shelling of Cañon City to emerge unblemished after one day of the double-elimination tournament.
“Everybody knows our name now,” said Eagles designated hitter Joe Alexander, who was 2-for-3 with a two-run homer in the top of the fourth as Broomfield (17-6) won its seventh straight and fourth this season by 10 or more runs.
Broomfield dropped Cherokee Trail 8-3 in the morning game and then watched Cañon City’s thrilling eight-inning upset of top-seeded Ralston Valley.
Hoping to get to the Tigers early, the Eagles got a three-run home run by Chris Grandinetti in the top of the first to spark a four-run inning that swelled to a 9-0 lead after three innings.
Jarod Berggren and Curt Siebenaller also hit homers for the Eagles, who pounded 17 hits and struck out just twice against the Tigers.
“We wanted to make sure we got them quick so we could kind of bring them back down to our level,” Eagles skipper Garren Estes said.
The Eagles will return to Englewood’s Harry Wise Field today to play Northern League rival Northridge (17-6) with the winner gaining the pole position when the tournament wraps up next week. Broomfield has never lost to Northridge and crushed the Grizzlies 11-1 on April 14.
Friday’s loss was quite a contrast for Cañon City (13-9). The Tigers’ Cinderella run continued in their 3-2 win over Ralston Valley when Mustangs reliever Matt Skipper walked in the winning run in the bottom of the eighth.
Against Broomfield, Cañon City didn’t get a hit until the third inning and finished with three singles. Pitchers Miles Gorham, Manny Crespin and Josh Ary all got lit up by the Eagles.
“It didn’t matter who we threw, they were sharp,” Tigers coach Bret Meuli said of the Eagles. “We just have to bounce back. This is a game you put behind you real quick.”
It’s a game Broomfield will probably get a lot of mileage out of. Every batter got a hit for the Eagles and nine different players scored a run.
Broomfield starting pitcher Patrick Oliver should have plenty of arm left after throwing just three innings for the win.
Ralston Valley (17-4), which ultimately could not overcome Cañon City ace Cameron Maldonado, will play Cherokee Trail (20-2) Saturday morning at Greeley’s Butch Butler Field. The winner will face Liberty (20-3) in the afternoon.
GAME 1
BROOMFIELD 17, CANON CITY 2
Broomfield 441 53 – 17 17 2
Cañon City 000 20 – 2 3 2
Broomfield – McBride cf 5-2-3-1, Berggren lf 4-3-3-2, Grandinetti ss 2-3-1-4, Siebenaller 1b 4-2-2-3, Oliver sp 3-1-1-0, Arapkiles 2b 4-1-1-0, Kessler c 2-0-2-2, Lontine 3b 4-1-1-1, Alexander dh 3-2-2-3, Maddox rf 0-0-0-0, Craddock cr-ph 1-2-1-0, Hamilton rp 0-0-0-0. Totals 30-17-17-16.
Cañon City – Gangel rf 2-0-1-0, Crespin cf-rp-ss 2-0-0-0, Ary ss-rp 3-0-0-0, Maldonado 1b 1-1-0-0, Gorham sp 1-0-0-0, Kerr lf 1-1-0-0, McCain c 1-0-0-0, Wendt 3b 1-0-0-0, Smith cf 1-0-1-1, Stringari ph 1-0-1-0, Foulk 3b 1-0-0-0, Mayson ph 0-0-0-0, Dwen ph 1-0-0-0. Totals 18-2-3-1.
E – Ary 2; Grandinetti, Hamilton. LOB – Broomfield 7, Canon City 6. SB – McBride; Gangel. 2B – Kessler, Alexander. HR – Grandinetti, B, two on in first; Berggren, B, solo in second; Alexander, B, one on in fourth; Siebenaller, B, two on in fourth.
Batteries – Oliver, Hamilton (4) and Kessler; Gorham, Crespin (4), Ary (5) and McCain. HBP – Alexander (by Gorham in first). PB – Cañon City 2. B – Hamilton. W – Oliver. L – Gorham.
GAME 2
CAÑON CITY 3, RALSTON VALLEY 2 (8 INN.)
Ralston Valley 000 001 01 – 2 7 0
Cañon City 000 000 12 – 3 5 0
Schmidt, Skipper (8) and Young; Maldonado and McCain. W – Maldonado (8-1). L – Schmidt. HR – McKinney, RV, solo in sixth. Highlights – Maldonado, CC, 8 Ks.
GAME 1
BROOMFIELD 8, CHEROKEE TRAIL 3
Broomfield 011 033 0 – 8 15 5
Cherokee Trail 000 200 1 – 3 9 2
Herrman and Kessler; Glime, Miller (6) and Crandell. W – Herrman. L – Glime. HR – Perry, CT, solo in seventh. Highlights – Kessler, B, 2-for-4, 2 RBIs, run scored; Berggren, B, 4-for-5, run scored.
