Lakewood – There wasn’t a problem the Thomas Jefferson Spartans couldn’t hit their way out of Saturday.
Down 2-0 in the first inning to Greeley West? Kian Jost made it 3-2 with a two-run homer in the bottom of the inning.
Down 4-3 in the third? Tyler Thornton’s bases-loaded single helped put TJ back up 7-4.
The five-run sixth inning? That was just gravy as TJ blasted its way to a 12-4 victory at All Star Park to emerge as the only unbeaten club in the eight-team, double-elimination Class 4A state championship series.
In search of its first baseball state title since 1967, TJ (21-2) guaranteed itself a spot in next Saturday’s state championship game regardless of the outcome of Friday’s game against Niwot. Greeley West (17-7) will play Cherokee Trail (21-3).
TJ starter Michael Mankoff gave up eight hits in four innings and got out of enough jams to deny Greeley West’s bid.
The TJ bats continued to stay hot, banging out 11 hits, including Matthew Mankoff’s sixth-inning grand slam off reliever Rex Morgan.
“Last year we relied a lot on small ball,” Jost said. “This year we’re able to rely on just driving the ball and scoring runs with our big bats.”
Dylan Smith and Michael Mankoff each had three hits, and Jost and Matthew Mankoff were both 2-for-4 and combined for five runs scored.
TJ chased Greeley West starter Alex Seier in the third inning when the home team went up for good with four runs on four hits. Rex Morgan, who threw two innings of relief on Friday, couldn’t pacify TJ as he was touched up for six runs on four hits, largely thanks to five walks.
Brett Nathan, TJ’s top hitter, scored a run but was held hitless, striking out twice.
“Each day it’s going to be someone different,” TJ coach Tory Humphrey said. “They don’t like to lose.”
Travis Belfiore led off the game with a solo home run to left to fuel a two-run inning for Greeley West.
Greeley West regained the lead in the third on consecutive run-scoring singles by Ben Koppes and catcher Stuart Wilson. But when Seier, who was making just his second appearance this season, started to falter, TJ clubbed its way to safety.
“We knew it was going to be a battle,” Greeley West coach Brian Holmes said. “They got some of the breaks today and we got some of the breaks yesterday.”
Greeley West 202 000 0 – 4 9 1
Thomas Jefferson 304 005 x – 12 11 1
Greeley West – Belfiore dh 3-1-1-1, Seier sp 0-0-0-0, R. Morgan ss-rp 4-1-2-0, Downing 3b 4-0-2-0, Schmitt rf 3-2-0-0, Koppes lf 4-0-2-2, Wilson c 3-0-1-1, Dowgin cr-2b 0-0-0-0, Hawkins 1b 3-0-0-0, Foose 2b-ss 3-0-1-0, M. Morgan cf 3-0-0-0. Totals 30-4-9-4.
Thomas Jefferson – Smith lf 3-2-3-1, Thornton ss 3-0-1-2, Nathan rf-3b 3-1-0-0, Mi. Mankoff sp-rf 4-3-3-2, Jost 2b 3-3-2-2, Ma. Mankoff 1b 3-2-2-4, Dillard dh 2-0-0-1, Hearne cf 0-0-0-0, Burns 3b-rp 4-0-0-0, Maloney c 2-1-0-0. Totals 27-12-11-12.
E – Downing; Nathan. LOB – Greeley West 6, Thomas Jefferson 5. SB – M. Morgan, R. Morgan; Mi. Mankoff. Caught stealing – Dillard. SAC – Dillard, Thornton.
2B – Koppes, R. Morgan; Ma. Mankoff, Smith. HR – Belfiore, solo in first; Jost, one on in first; Ma. Mankoff, grand slam in sixth.
Batteries – Seier, R. Morgan (3) and Wilson; Mi. Mankoff, Burns (5) and Maloney. W – Mi. Mankoff (2-0). L – Seier (1-1). HBP – Ma. Mankoff (by Seier in third); Belfiore (by Mi. Mankoff in fourth). WP – Mi. Mankoff. T – 2:21.
CHEROKEE TRAIL 6, NORTHRIDGE 3
Cherokee Trail 040 000 2 – 6 10 2
Northridge 000 120 0 – 3 11 2
Batteries – Dando, Perry (6) and Crandell; Morgan, D.J. Huston (7) and Mansfield. W – Dando. L – Morgan. Highlights – Crandell, CT, 2-for-3, RBI; Perry, CT, 2-for-4, 2B; Maldonado, N, 3-for-4, RBI; Morgan, 2-for-4, 2B.
NORTHRIDGE 15, MOUNTAIN VIEW 3
Northridge 300 1(11) – 15 15 0
Mountain View 100 20 – 3 9 1
Batteries – Carmin and Mansfield; Neeper, Liddle (5) and Urich, Moore (5). W – Carmin. L – Neeper. Highlights – M. Huston, N, 3-for-3, 3B, 2 RBIs; Hood, N, 2-for-5, HR, 2B, 5 RBIs; Huggans, N, 3-for-4, RBI; Moore, MV, 2-for-2, 2B, RBI.
