Arvada – Faith Christian coach Gino Carbajal has warned his Eagles their cardinal-and-gold uniforms come with bull’s-eyes in 2007.
As the top-ranked team in The Denver Post/9News Class 3A poll, Faith Christian also has an ambitious nonleague schedule, in addition to a demanding Metropolitan League slate.
So far, so good, as the Eagles knocked down mid-class power Eaton 11-8 at home Thursday. They also earned their first victory against the Reds in 10 tries and handed Eaton ace Kyle Ottoson his first loss in 21 career prep decisions.
“I didn’t want to be No. 1,” Carbajal said. “But that’s good. Everybody will come with their best, and we have to bust our tails.”
The Eagles (4-0) busted their tails and a few other items in twice rallying from deficits. Ottoson’s knuckle-curve worked early, but Faith Christian batted around in the fourth inning and sent eight batters to the plate in the fifth for a seven-run roll.
Center fielder Dave Fox was 3-for-3 with three RBIs, a triple and a two-run single.
Eagles starter and winner Josh Anderson settled down after giving up five early runs, including a no-doubt, two-run homer by Eaton’s Drew Smith, who had four RBIs.
The Reds (3-1) uncharacteristically had issues pitching and fielding, something their younger group – only one senior – is battling.
“We get in a big game and they don’t know how to take the big out of the big game,” Eaton coach Jim Danley said.
Eaton 230 002 1 – 8 10 3
Faith Christian 202 430 x – 11 10 3
Eaton – Ruff rf 3-1-2-1, Wallace dh 4-1-1-1, T. Anderson ss 0-0-0-0, Smith 3b 3-2-2-4, Pickar c 4-0-1-0, C. Anderson cr 0-0-0-0, Ball lf 4-0-1-0, McLavey ss-p 3-0-1-0, Hall 1b 4-0-0-0, Monfort 2b 3-1-0-0, Geisick dh 4-2-2-0, Ottoson p 0-0-0-0. Totals 32-8-10-6.
Faith Cristian – Wall ss 4-2-2-1, S. Carbajal c 3-3-1-1, Fox cf 3-2-3-3, Anderson p-3b 4-0-1-0, Carroll cr 0-0-0-0, Rivera 1b 3-0-0-0, Thompson dh 4-0-1-0, M. Carbajal 2b 2-2-1-0, Tyckson lf 3-2-1-0, Henry 3b 2-0-0-0, McCleskey p 1-0-0-0, Johnson rf 0-0-0-0. Totals 29-11-10-5.
E – S. Carbajal, Pickar, McLavey, Wall, Monfort, McClusky. LOB – Eaton 8, Faith Christian 7. DP – Faith Christian. SAC – Henry, M. Carbajal. SB – S. Carbajal, Fox, Carroll 2, M. Carbajal. 2B – Geisick, S. Carbajal, M. Carbajal. 3B – Fox. HR – Smith, one on in second.
Batteries – Ottoson, McLavey (5) and Pickar; Anderson, McCleskey (6) and S. Carbajal. W – Anderson (2-0). L – Ottoson (2-1). WP – Ottoson 2, Anderson, McLavey, McCeskey. PB – Pickar 3, Balk – Ottoson. HBP – M. Carbajal (by McLavey); Fox (by McLavey); Ruff (by McCleskey). T – 2:36.
