Aurora – The bus carrying Highlands Ranch to Regis for a Continental League game Wednesday afternoon broke down soon after the Falcons left for Aurora.
But there was nothing mechanically unsound with their offense as the Falcons hammered out 15 hits in an 11-6 victory over the Raiders.
Highlands Ranch improved to 8-2, 3-0 in the league, in stark contrast to past seasons in which it has played less than .500 ball.
“I’m proud of what they’re doing, and I guess the thing that I’m most proud of is they’re competing,” coach John Cackowski said of his rejuvenated Falcons. The 1992 graduate of Highlands Ranch and former 10-year assistant at neighboring ThunderRidge said he’s pleased “when we come out and the kids don’t take things for granted.”
Even though rushed to arrive at the site, Highlands Ranch scored single runs in the first and second innings, then put it away with a three-spot in the fourth and five in the sixth.
Dillon Vincent led the way by going 3-for-3 with two runs scored and four RBIs, including a three-run home run in the fourth from the No. 8 hole.
“I’m comfortable wherever they want to put me,” the senior shortstop said. “We’re trying not to think too much.”
Kyle Mack added three hits and two RBIs, and Sean Grover, Kevin Crosbie and Brandon Hurst each had two hits for the Falcons.
Hurst also took away extra bases twice with his play in center field, the Falcons turned two double plays, and starter Mike Weimer didn’t get into trouble until the middle innings.
“Since last summer, I’ve been trying to teach these guys, ‘Why not us?”‘ Cackow- ski said.
For Regis (4-4, 1-2), every starter but one hit safely, but couldn’t keep up as the Raiders stranded nine runners. They also didn’t score after back-to-back doubles in the fourth because of a baserunning error, although they scored three runs two batters later when a deep drive to right field by Alex Goetz was misplayed into a bases-clearing double.
Highlands Ranch 110 315 0 – 11 15 2
Regis 000 312 0 – 6 11 2
Highlands Ranch – Grover lf-p 5-2-2-2, Shehan 2b 4-0-0-0, Blakeley c 4-0-1-1, Houston 3b 3-2-1-0, Mack 1b 4-1-3-2, Halboth dh-p 4-1-1-0, Weimer p 0-0-0-0, MacFarlane lf 0-0-0-0, Crosbie rf 3-2-2-0, Vincent ss 3-2-3-4, Murphy ss 1-0-0-0, Hurst cf 4-1-2-1. Totals 35-11-15-10.
Regis – Zasowski lf 4-1-1-1, Knox 2b 4-1-2-0, O’Dowd c 3-0-1-0, Clark c 0-0-0-0, Rouse cr 0-0-0-0, Jackson rf-p 3-0-1-1, Kimmeth rf 0-0-0-0, Castle cr 0-0-0-0, Wagman 3b 4-1-2-0, Dennison 1b 3-1-2-1, Gillespie p-rf 4-0-1-0, Viera cf 3-2-0-0, Goetz ss 4-0-1-3. Totals 32-6-11-6.
E – O’Dowd, Jackson, Shehan 2. DP – Highlands Ranch 2. LOB – Highlands Ranch 5, Regis 9. SB – Grover, Dennison 2. Caught stealing – McFarlane. 2B – Mack, Wagman, Dennison, Goetz, Houston. 3B – Grover. HR – Vincent, two on in fourth. Batteries – Weimer, Halboth (6), Grover (7) and Blakeley; Gillespie, Jackson (6) and O’Dowd. W – Weimer (3-1). L – Gillespie (1-1). WP – Weimer 2, Gillespie, Jackson. PB – Blakeley. HBP – Viera (by Weimer). T – 2:16.
