LAKEWOOD — The only thing different for Thomas Jefferson baseball is the perspective.
The Spartans are in control of the Class 4A state championship series after the opening weekend for the second straight year after a 9-5 victory over Skyline on Saturday at All-Star Park.
The Spartans (22-2) are guaranteed a spot in next week’s final as the only unbeaten in the eight-team, double-elimination bracket.
That scenario didn’t help them last year when they lost to Cherokee Trail and failed to end a baseball title drought that goes back to 1967.
“It’s definitely sweeter, because it’s hard to get back,” Spartans first baseman Matthew Mankoff said.
“It’s definitely harder this year than it was last year. We’ve been here, done it, to this point. We learned last year what we need to do to finish it off. That’s our goal this year is to get it done.”
Mankoff had two hits and drove in two runs, while brother Michael hit a double, stole three bases and pitched three shutout innings of relief to hand Skyline (19-5) its first loss of the tournament.
Thomas Jefferson will play Fossil Ridge (19-5) on Friday, and Skyline will face Ralston Valley (21-3) in an elimination game.
The Spartans of 2007 were “too young” and “inexperienced,” senior shortstop Tyler Thornton said. This year’s team also likes its chances in a field absent the kind of ace pitchers Cherokee Trail possessed last season.
“None of these pitchers are overpowering,” said Thornton, who had two hits and scored twice. “They keep it in the zone, and we swing it. We’re going to be aggressive.”
Senior right-hander Ryan Allen labored four innings for the victory after the Spartans twice rallied in the first three innings.
Skyline stranded six runners in the first three innings and saw its 5-2 lead evaporate in the bottom of the third when the Spartans plated four runs on one hit. The Falcons committed three errors.
“With the exception of two innings today, we were in control of this ballgame in the first couple innings,” Falcons skipper Mike Hoog said. “We tightened up a little bit and threw the ball around. When you do that, you let a good team back in.”
Nick Bertron was 3-for-4 at the plate with a run-scoring double in the first inning for the Falcons.
Pitcher Tyler Landwehr threw four innings and took the loss.
Skyline 113 000 0 — 5 7 3
Thomas Jefferson 024 201 x — 9 7 1
Skyline — Jelinek rf 0-0-0-0, Wilkes 3b 0-0-0-0, Zaruba dh 4-0-1-1, Harms 3b-ss 3-1-0-0, Bleeker ss-rp 4-0-1-0, Bertron cf 4-1-3-1, Landwehr sp-rf 2-0-0-0, Pineda cr-ph 1-1-0-0, Wagy 1b 3-0-1-1, Colburn lf 2-0-1-0, Nehls 2b 3-2-0-0, Albers c 1-0-0-0. Totals 27-5-7-3.
Thomas Jefferson — Smith lf 2-2-1-0, Thornton ss 4-2-2-1, Nathan 2b 3-1-0-0, Freeland 3b 0-0-0-0, Mi., Mankoff dh-rp 2-2-1-0, Jost cf 3-1-0-1, Ma. Mankoff 1b 3-1-2-2, Hearne rf 4-0-1-1, Allen sp 2-0-0-0, Thomas cr-ph 1-0-0-0, Siddle 3b 1-0-0-0, M. Maloney c 3-0-0-0. Totals 28-9-7-5.
E — Harms, Bleeker, Nehls, Freeland. LOB — Skyline 10, Thomas Jefferson 8. SB — Mi. Mankoff 3, Thornton. GIDP – Pineda; Nathan. SAC — Albers.
2B — Bertron, Bleeker; Mi. Mankoff, Ma. Mankoff.
Batteries — Landwehr, Bleeker (5) and Albers; Allen, Mi. Mankoff (5) and M. Maloney. W — Allen (6-0). L — Landwehr (4-1). WP — Landwehr; Allen 2. HBP — Colburn (by Mi. Mankoff in seventh). PB — Albers. CI — Albers. T – 2:11.
FOSSIL RIDGE 1, CONIFER 0
Conifer 000 000 0 — 0 3 0
Fossil Ridge 001 000 0 — 1 7 1
Riley and Lee; McEvoy and Pappas. W — McEvoy (7-0). L — Riley. Highlights — Pappas, FR, 2-for-3, RBI; Billinger, FR, 2-for-3; Todd, FR, 1-for-2; Brown, C, 1-for-2, 3 SBs.
FOSSIL RIDGE 5, GOLDEN 0
Golden 000 000 0 — 0 3 0
Fossil Ridge 030 101 x — 5 9 0
Seery and Gillespie; Daily and Pappas. W — Daily. L — Seery. Highlights — Billinger, FR, 1-for-4, 2 RBIs; Pappas, FR, 3-for-3, RBI; Rollison, FR, 2-for-2; Cowden, G, 1-for-2.
