PUEBLO — Eads deserves another nickname after defending its Class A baseball championship Saturday with a 9-8 victory over Granada at the Runyon Sports Complex.
In addition to the Eagles, call them “The Answer Boys.”
Everything Granada (16-4) could do, Eads (20-1) could do better. That included plating the winning run with two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning after Granada had evened the score with four runs in the top of the frame. The Eagles also scored three runs in the first inning after Granada opened the game with two runs, and answered two Granada runs in the third with two of their own.
“We just couldn’t shut them down,” Granada coach Manuel Gonzales said.
Blowing a four-run lead in the seventh inning might have demoralized other teams, but not Eads. Eagles center fielder Adam Watts brought home Taylor Reed for the winning run, lining a fastball by Daniel Morales past the first baseman on a 1-0 count.
“I knew (Morales) was pitching me outside,” Watts said, “so I decided I’d go with the pitch. I got the pitch I wanted.”
Granada had appeared to seize the momentum in the top of the seventh, getting a three-run double from Michael Ortiz, who later scored on a single by Traegon Marquez. Eads senior shortstop Kevin Lindholm, the game-winning starting pitcher Friday, had to relieve left-hander Kenan Gooden and was able to minimize the damage.
Lindholm, who has signed to play football at Chadron State, earned his second victory in two days when Watts knocked in the winning run in the bottom of the inning. Lindholm also was a terror at the plate, combining for five hits and four stolen bases in two games here. Eads won the 2007 six-man football championship, with Lindholm starring at running back. He also wrestled and played basketball this winter.
“If we needed a catcher, Kevin would go put on the gear,” Eads coach Billy Koehler said. “That’s the kind of kid he is.”
Eads banged out 16 hits Saturday and got a first-inning, two-run homer from Austin Adamson. During the regular season, Granada handed Eads its only loss this season. But Eads ended up winning three of four against its district rival. This was a rematch of last year’s title game.
“Nothing’s easy against Granada,” Koehler said.
Granada 202 000 4 — 8 10 1
Eads 312 002 1 — 9 16 2
Granada — Morales p 5-1-3-0, Dulac cf 4-0-0-0, Bohlander c 3-2-1-0, Ty. Marquez ss 2-2-0-0, Thrall 1b 3-2-1-0, Ortiz 3b 3-1-2-4, Tr. Marquez 2b 3-0-1-1, Martinez rf 4-0-1-0, Pizarro dh 4-0-1-0, Widener lf 0-0-0-0. Totals 31-8-10-5.Eads — Lindholm ss 4-3-3-0, Gooden p 4-1-2-2, Adamson c 4-1-2-3, Richardson 1b 4-1-2-0, Smith pr 0-0-0-0, Bolin 3b 4-1-3-1, Reed lf 4-2-1-1, Uhland 2b 4-0-0-0, Watts cf 4-0-3-2, Brandt rf 3-0-0-0. Totals 35-9-16-9.E — Bohlander, Uhland, Richardson. DP — Granada. LOB — Granada 6; Eads 6. SB — Lindholm 2, Gooden, Reed.
2B — Bolin 2, Reed, Lindholm, Adamson, Ortiz. HR — Adamson, two on in first.
Batteries — Morales and Bohlander; Gooden, Lindholm (7) and Adamson. W — Lindholm. L — Morales. HBP — Thrall by Gooden. Balk — Gooden, Morales. PB — Adamson, Bohlander. WP — Gooden 2, Morales.
Tom Kensler: 303-954-1280 or tkensler@denverpost.com
Class A Baseball MVP
Eads senior shortstop/pitcher Kevin Lindholm did it all in the two games in Pueblo. On the hill, he was credited with both victories; the semifinal as a starter and Saturday in a relief role. As the Eagles’ leadoff batter, he combined in the two games for five hits, six runs, one RBI and four stolen bases.
