Lakewood – Avram Carlson decided Friday the best way to beat one of the best hitting teams in the state was to just stop thinking.
“I’ve always had trouble mentally, and I just cleared my mind and said ‘Here, hit this,”‘ Carlson said.
Hardly anyone could answer that challenge.
The Greeley West starter gave up two hits in five innings against the Cherokee Trail Cougars, striking out 11 as the surprising Spartans won 7-4 to emerge undefeated in the first day of the Class 4A Championship Series at All Star Park.
Carlson threw strikes and let his defense work. But that was hardly necessary as the big right-hander struck out nine in the first three innings to recover from giving up a three-run homer to Micah Green in the top of the first inning.
It was a huge mental boost for a pitcher admittedly prone to struggling with his location and who was shelled in an 18-0 loss to Skyline this season.
The Spartans (17-6) will return here at 3 p.m. Saturday to face Thomas Jefferson (20-2) in the eight-team, double-elimination tournament. Greeley West, which was seeded 13th, rallied in the morning game to defeat Northern League rival Niwot 5-3.
Heavily favored Cherokee Trail (20-3), finalists last season, will have to battle back against the winner of Mountain View and Northridge.
Greeley West did all its damage early against Cherokee Trail starter Tim Moore, touching the lefty for seven runs in three innings.
Rex Morgan was 3-for-4 and drove in two runs, Travis Belfiore drove in two runs on two hits and Ryan Foose scored twice for the Spartans.
“By no means would I ever say we’re a better baseball team than them,” said Rex Morgan, who pitched two innings of relief. “We might be an even baseball team, they might be better (but) we had a better day today.”
The Cougars, who got a two-run homer in the first inning to defeat Liberty 3-2 earlier in the day, had Greeley West down 3-0 after Green’s monster home run to the right of center field. But Carlson regained control by striking out the next five batters.
“He was on,” Cougars coach Allan Dyer said of Carlson. “I give those guys credit. That pitcher just came after us. He challenged us and we didn’t step up.”
Designated hitter Beau Schneider was 2-for-4 for the Cougars.
Cherokee Trail 300 001 0 – 4 5 1
Greeley West 133 000 x – 7 10 0
Cherokee Trail – Schneider dh 4-0-2-0, Balogh 2b 0-0-0-0, Jacobs 3b 2-1-0-0, Perry ss 2-1-0-0, Green cf 4-1-1-3, Moore p 3-0-0-0, Noraker 1b 3-1-1-0, Glime c 3-0-0-0, Frisbie lf 2-0-1-1, Carrasco rf 2-0-0-0. Totals 25-4-5-4.
Greeley West – Belfiore dh 4-1-2-2, Carlson sp 0-0-0-0, Dowgin 2b 0-0-0-0, R. Morgan ss-rp 4-1-3-2, Downing 3b 3-1-1-0, Colbeth cr 0-0-0-0, Schmitt rf 3-0-1-1, Koppes lf 2-0-1-0, Wilson c 3-0-0-1, Hawkins 1b 4-1-1-0, Foose 2b-ss 2-2-1-0, M. Morgan cf 2-1-0-0. Totals 27-7-10-6.
E – Noraker. LOB – Cherokee Trail 5, Greeley West 5. SB – Colbeth. SAC – Schmitt. IBB – Koppes. GIDP – Perry; Downing. 2B – Schneider, Noraker, Frisbie; Belfiore, R. Morgan. HR – Green, two on in first.
Batteries – Moore and Glime; Carlson, R. Morgan (6) and Wilson. W – Carlson (6-3). L – Moore (8-1). HBP – Jacobs (by Carlson in fifth). WP – Moore. PB – Wilson. T – 2:01.
