It’s safe to say the Broomfield Eagles have everyone’s attention.
Forty-four hits, 42 runs and three victories by an average of 11 runs in the Class 4A Championship Series will do that.
When play resumes Friday and culminates Saturday, the Eagles (18-6) have the peace of mind knowing they still have one loss to give in the double-elimination tournament, which has been pared to four teams.
Of course, with the way the Eagles are suddenly crushing the ball and chewing up opposing pitchers, the taste of defeat doesn’t seem to be on the menu.
Jarod Berggren, Chris Grandinetti, Curt Siebenaller, leadoff man Tyler McBride and No. 9 hitter Joe Alexander have knocked the Eagles in a batter’s Xanadu.
“The fact that everybody through the lineup is hitting is really neat,” said Broomfield skipper Garren Estes, the 2004 4A coach of the year. “We’re just seeing the ball so well.”
It’s safe to say the rest of the field is seeing something in a shade of red.
Cherokee Trail (22-2), Northridge (17-7) and Cañon City (14-9) have two things in common – they face elimination in every game because they’ve all been smacked by Broomfield.
Cherokee Trail, which played Broomfield the closest in an 8-3 loss, is up first and confident it can show the Eagles something new: Bradshaw Perry. The ace junior pitcher threw in the Cougars’ second game, a shutout victory to eliminate top-seeded Ralston Valley, and will take the mound Friday at Lakewood’s All-Star Park.
The Cougars will feed off Perry’s energy and hope to get him run support behind the clutch Mark Brundage, first baseman Dustin Noraker and third baseman Todd Glime.
“It’s no secret what we have to do,” Cougars coach Allan Dyer said.
With a loss to spare, the Eagles don’t have to throw ace lefty Andy Herrman on Friday, and Estes seemed to be leaning toward giving Patrick Oliver the start.
The ace of spades of the field is in the hands of Cañon City coach Bret Meuli.
Cameron Maldonado threw gas for 12 innings last week to help the upstart Tigers to wins over Ralston Valley and D’Evelyn. Maldonado’s arm is capable of shutting anyone down, but with the possibility of two games to play before Saturday’s final at All-City Field, Meuli must gamble on when to use him.
“We got to go out and attack Northridge,” Meuli said. “There may be a scenario where I hold Cameron back.”
Northridge will roll with its ace Friday, junior right-hander Rhett Morgan (7-1 this season).
The Grizzlies have defied the odds to survive this long, which is a tribute to their team ball and tenacity behind catcher Jarred Wallace and the hot-hitting Mikel Huston.
The Grizzlies have a week to shake off their 17-3 shellacking at the hands of Broomfield, although it’s something not easily forgotten.
“You can’t look at Broomfield or you’ll never get there,” Northridge coach Mike Huston said.
